The directory «Plots»

Bond Michael (b. 1926)
«A Bear called Paddington»

Michael Bond was born in Berkshire in 1926. He served in the armed forces during the second world war and began writing in 1945 when he was in the army.

He wrote lots of short stories and radio plays but never thought about writing for children until his agent suggested he turn a television play into a play for children.

In 1956, Michael Bond presented his wife with a teddy bear he had purchased at Selfridge's Department Store. The bear was a successful gift for he soon was the recipient of gifts himself. The clothes he was outfitted with are now a signature as identifiable as his name, Paddington's duffel coat, bush hat, and suitcase suggested a traveler and it wasn't long before Bond's whimsical imagination took flight. It is not unusual for teddy collectors to indulge in a bit of fantasy and give a life to a favorite bruin. Michael Bond however, put his story down on paper, not dreaming at the time that it would bring untold delight to millions and evolve into a worldwide industry.

A Bear Called Paddington was published in 1958. It told the tale of an accident-prone bear who arrived in London, via Paddington Station, all the way from darkest Peru. Around his neck was the key to his suitcase and a tag with a message to "Please look after this bear." Paddington's love for marmalade and his attempts, as a foreigner, to learn the British way of life endeared him to readers everywhere. The book was so successful that a new adventure was published every year for the following decade. Additionally, six new volumes came out between 1968 and 1981. The books were published in the United States as well and translated into many foreign languages.

Great Britain, 1994, Paddington Bear

Great Britain, 2006, Paddington Bear

Great Britain, 2006, Paddington Bear

New Zealand, 1994, Paddington Bear

Great Britain, 1994.02.01, Greetings from Paddington

Great Britain, 1996.09.03, London. Paddington Bear

Great Britain, 2006.01.10, London, Paddington. Paddington Bear

Great Britain, 2006.01.10, London, W10. Paddington Bear

Great Britain, 2006.01.10, London, Windsor Garden. Paddington Bear's bag and hat