Bond, Michael - The Complete Paddington (Published in London by The Folio Society. 2010. 12 volumes. Presented in a buckram-bound slipcase blocked in gold. Bound in different shades of gold-blocked cloth with matching head and tail bands. Inset paper labels, gilded top edges, printed endpapers. Between 1958 and 1979 Michael Bond wrote eleven stories about a well-intentioned, but accident-prone bear called Paddington, who has a penchant for marmalade. Paddington has since delighted children and adults the world over, selling over 35 million copies in 40 languages. To the delight of fans, Bond wrote the 12th book to celebrate Paddington's 50th anniversary. Now, the complete set of Paddington stories is available in a gorgeous, exclusive Folio Society edition. Michael Bond was working as a cameraman for the BBC, when, returning home on Christmas Eve, he saw a lonely-looking bear in a shop window. He bought it as a gift for his wife and named it Paddington because they lived near the station. Soon Bond found himself making up little stories about a small (and very rare) bear who leaves darkest Peru because his Aunt Lucy has gone into a home for retired bears. Luckily the first people he meets in London are Mr and Mrs Brown. They see him sitting sadly on his suitcase, with a label around his neck which reads: PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS BEAR. THANK YOU. Taken into the Browns' family, Paddington soon makes friends with the children Jonathan and Judy, and their redoubtable housekeeper Mrs Bird. He goes on delightful adventures with Mr Gruber who owns an antique shop on Portobello Road, but annoys a grumpy neighbour whose furious shouts of 'BEAARRR!' often ring round Notting Hill Square. This glorious set is illustrated with the original black and white drawings by Peggy Fortnum. She immortalised the little bear with tufty black ears who first arrived in Paddington station holding onto his uncle's floppy hat and was later coaxed into a fine blue duffel coat. The final, 50th-anniversary book employs the talents of R. W. Alley, a devoted fan whose sketches are a fitting homage to Peggy Fortnum's pen.