The Snowman children’s picture book’s author Raymond Briggs passed away on August 9, 2022, at the age of 88. The news was first announced by Briggs’ publisher, Penguin Random House, on August 10. His 1978 book The Snowman is his most well-known work, but he has been a cartoonist, illustrator, and creator of graphic novels since the early 1950s. Famous picture books like Fungus the Bogeyman and Father Christmas were also written by Briggs.
Hilary Delamere, Briggs’ literary agent, broke the bad news:
“Raymond loved to play the professional snob, yet his stories of love and loss will live on in our memories. I am aware of the emotional impact his essays and animations had because of the many letters he received. Up to the very end, he didn’t lose interest or amazement.
The life and career of illustrator Raymond Briggs
Englishman Raymond Briggs was born in London in 1934. He attended the Wimbledon School of Art and the Slade School of Art in London for his schooling. At the beginning of his career, Briggs worked in advertising. He did, however, go on to work as an illustrator for children’s books and teach illustration at Brighton College of Art.
With the release of The Mother Goose Treasury, a compilation of nursery rhymes, Briggs first attained global fame. Additionally, he twice earned the Kate Greenaway Medal from The Library Association of Great Britain, first in 1966 and then again in 1973. Renowned authors like Allan Ahlberg have had their works illustrated by Raymond Briggs. The Snowman (1979) and Father Christmas (1973), two of the artist’s most well-known children’s books, were also drawn by him (1978).
Briggs explained to The Guardian why he was reluctant to grant director John Coates The Snowman’s film rights:
Every five minutes he would bring it up, and I would always refuse since I knew he would make money off of it. He did that. At the same time, really well done.
In the same interview with The Guardian, Briggs talked about his dissatisfaction with how the popular imagination of The Snowman book and movie had merged. He stated:
“I find it annoying that people attribute the book’s success to the image. God forbid, it should be the other way around! It doesn’t really matter.
The majority of his works have also been translated into other languages and adapted into well-known plays, films, and television comedies. Additionally, Briggs contributed to the 1998 graphic novel Ethel & Ernest, a memoir of his parents. The story revolves around how the couple met and their 41-year relationship. The Bear, Unlucky Wally, and Fungus the Bogeyman are some of Raymond Briggs’ other well-known novels (1994)
When the Wind Blows, written by Raymond Briggs in 1982 for his older audience, is seen as a nuclear war spoof. Successful literary adaptations include The Old Iron Woman and The Tin Pot Foreign General (1984). Time For Lights Out, Briggs’ most recent picture book, also explores the physical ignominies of aging and was released in 2019. When discussing the process of finishing the book, Raymond Briggs said:
“I’d like to finish some of the rough sketches. You begin sketching it and then abandon it, but you never finish. Everything takes a long time when you’re old. I just finished dressing after taking 30 minutes. Ludicrous!
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