Seaton's Aunt, Page 1

I've decided to try my hand at adapting some old horror stories, because I love horror and it's a challenge to my not-particularly-horrific art style. (Robert Crumb in the documentary Crumb: "I've got the cuute curse. I picked it up working at American Greeetings.") This is "Seaton's Aunt" by Walter de la Mare, a deeply peculiar story and one of my favorites. If de la Mare is remembered today, it's probably for this story and being repeatedly quoted in Watership Down, but his work was very popular during his life, especially his children's books and poetry.

Anyway. I was looking forward to drawing old-timey British boys' school uniforms, but to my misfortune the story mentions a "billycock hat," another term for a bowler, which I have a terrible time drawing. I was hoping to draw little cloth caps on the boys, but no such luck.

Seaton is described sharing his generous "tuck," snacks sent in care packages from home. Anyone who read Roald Dahl's memoir Boy: Tales of Childhood will remember his description of tuck boxes and the wonders secreted therein. I found a picture of a period tuck box online so I had more reference than Quentin Blake's delightful illustrations in that book.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this adaptation. I hope to draw some more classic (a.k.a. public domain) horror fiction.