Philip Pullman book to be auctioned in aid of children in southern Africa
À Outrance – an old French term for a fight to the death – is a special little book by Philip Pullman that will help children affected by HIV and Aids in southern Africa.
The book will feature an extract from Northern Lights describing the battle between two armoured bears, Iorek Byrnison and Iofur Raknison. Only 265 of the books will be published – 15 of them unique copies created by some of the world’s leading bookbinders – through an initiative with Oak Tree Fine Press.
The most expensive of the Pullman books, each hand-printed on a letter press, featuring woodcut illustrations and personally inscribed by the author, are likely to fetch thousands through a silent auction.
Pullman, the award –winning author, said “Normally I’d feel a little equivocal about being published in an edition that very few people can afford. The reason I agreed to this was that all the proceeds are going to benefit children in Africa with HIV/Aids. It seems a wonderful way of both making exquisite and unique objects and bringing help to children who desperately need it.”
Copies of À Outrance will be on display at a Bodleian Library exhibition in Oxford from December 15 to 18.
Posted: December 9th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Philip Pullman
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