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HUGH BONNEVILLE: (As Henry Brown) Hi, big fella.
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There were translations, merchandise, TV shows, a 2014 movie. But Paddington was Bond's biggest mark on the world.
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LIMBONG: Michael Bond wrote other books, too - the Olga da Polga series about a storytelling guinea pig, the Monsieur Pamplemousse books, his series about a food critic/detective for adults.
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MICHAEL BOND: They had everything contained in a little suitcase, and that, too, figured in the Paddington book when I came to write it because I see it in my mind. He told the Reading Museum that Paddington Bear was partially based on an image he remembered from World War II - kids fleeing London, which was being bombed, showing up at the Reading train station. LIMBONG: Michael Bond was born in 1926 in England. UNIDENTIFIED MAN: It said simply, please look after this bear. Brown, who spots a label around the bear's neck. The bear shows up in a train station in London with not really much of a plan. LIMBONG: This is the audiobook of Thomas Michael Bond's first installment, "A Bear Named Paddington" (ph). UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I used to live with my Aunt Lucy in Peru, but she had to go into a home for retired bears. (SOUNDBITE OF AUDIOBOOK, "A BEAR CALLED PADDINGTON") And NPR's Andrew Limbong has this remembrance.ĪNDREW LIMBONG, BYLINE: Paddington Bear arrived in England illegally in need of a home. Well, Michael Bond died yesterday at the age of 91. Usually he's got on a rumpled hat and duffel coat, and he loves marmalade. A couple of years later, Bond turned him into a children's book character, a scruffy little guy who's prone to accidents but who means well. It was 1956, and he bought it for his wife. This article was originally published at 5:20 a.m.The story goes that Michael Bond saw a teddy bear around Christmas in a British department store. and New Zealand win the America’s Cup, dies at 71īill Dana, comedian who came to regret the success of Jose Jimenez character, dies at 92ĩ:20 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details about Bond. Michael Nyqvist, Swedish star of original ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,’ dies at 56ĭoug Peterson, yacht designer who helped U.S. In addition to the Paddington stories, Bond wrote a series of books about a guinea pig named Olga da Polga and a string of novels for adults about a French detective called Monsieur Pamplemousse.īond is survived by his wife and his children, Karen and Anthony. “He leaves a special legacy: Long live the bear from darkest Peru.” “Michael will be greatly missed by his legions of fans and especially by his wife, Sue, his family and of course by his beloved guinea pigs,” he said.
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Brown in the movie adaptations, said news of Bond’s death came on the final day of shooting for the upcoming film.īonneville said Paddington’s “enthusiasm and optimism has given pleasure to millions across the generations.” “Bears have this quality that children in particular feel they can tell their secrets to and they won’t pass them on.”Īctor Hugh Bonneville, who plays Mr. “I think dolls are always wondering what they’re going to wear next,” he said. Many of the children had name tags hung around their necks.īond said a sense of vulnerability “was an important part of Paddington’s persona” and a reason why children were drawn to him.Įxplaining the character’s enduring appeal in 2008, Bond said, “There’s something about bears which sets them apart from the other toys.”
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In creating the initially homeless Paddington, Bond drew on memories of the refugees and evacuees who streamed through British train stations before and after World War II, seeking security in safer places. A statue of the beloved bear stands at his namesake station. Today, stuffed Paddingtons are for sale in toy stores and souvenir stands around Britain.
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