WARFARE IN SOME INTERBELLUM KIDLIT

WARFARE IN SOME INTERBELLUM KIDLIT:

THE INFLUENCE OF THE GREAT WAR AND THE LINGERING OF POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE

PATAPOUFS & FILIFERS, André Maurois - France

The Patapoufs are a kingdom of hefty bons-vivants, while the Filifers are a republic of slender curmudgeons. These two Ruritanian nations are constantly at each others' throats; the focus of the novel is a trench war between them, the casus belli being the usual border dispute...

One can see this as counterpart cultures with a conflict counterpart and all; stereotypical French vs. stereotypical Germans, with either the respective associated forms of government, or respective national characters, reversed; giving French-like Germans and German-like French as a result. Which also establishes that these two Ruritanias are not so different at the end of the day.

A cyanotic Patapouf officer suffocates to death stuck in a Filifer trench.

"LA MORT GLORIEUSE DU COMMANDANT TRIPOUF"

The war winds up bringing both people together: soldiers marry maidens from enemy country across both fronts, and not only does this event bring peace to the lands: Patapoufs become more disciplined and physically fit, while sweetshops are finally legalized in Filifer country. Which can be read as both a pacifist message and an anticipation of the European Union.

Originally published in the inter-war years, Fattypuffs and Thinifers simultaneously offers comment on the Great War and a warning of the war that was yet to come. It is also remarkably fresh and very funny.

This version is illustrated by Kristyna Lytten, who says:

What did you want to bring to the book?

I think my main concern was to complement the feel of the book. I wanted to inject my style into the characters, but also not stray too far from Wegner's illustrations either. So that the characters are relatable with what the reader sees inside. I think the book is really character orientated too. I love that, and so really wanted them to to be a real focus on my design. I hope I did that, and I think our Fattypuff King (Plumpapuff) particularly makes a real impact with his royal red uniform, decorated with tassels and medals.

What opportunities do the two contrasting nations offer the illustrator?

Its a real play on opposites. flamboyant and sleek, bubbly round shapes and sharp, pointy shapes. Fat, thin, short and tall. You can really go wild with the design of everything that features in the contrasting worlds. from the more obvious houses and furniture to glasses and food. You can see how Wegner has done this and pushed it to the extreme. I had great fun exploring this in my research sketches.

KRÓL MACIUS PIERWSZY - Janusz Korczak, Poland

An orphan prince inherits the throne as a pre-teen and has lots of adventures. The first one involves sneaking to the war front, posing as a midget naked Tomek, but ultimately gets a nom de guerre that translates to Oakpuller.

The story takes place in Macius's homeland, a Ruritanian kingdom that is obviously a counterpart of Poland (then a republic in the interbellum period), at war simultaneously with counterpart Austria, Prussia, and Russia.

Excerpt from Korczak's novel "King Matt"

The following excerpt is taken from Korczak's novel "King Matt" which is a must as a reader. Looking forward to more peaceful days and times. 

Matt made it the rest of the way without any more problems and then told the lieutenant about everything he had seen. The lieutenant immediately telephoned the artillery. They didn’t waste a second and began firing on the enemy’s ammunition dump right away. The first twelve shots missed, but there was no question about the thirteenth. The ammunition kept exploding until the whole sky was red, and there was so much smoke you couldn’t breathe.

Pandemonium broke out in the enemy’s trenches. The lieutenant lifted Matt up in the air and said three times
“What a kid, what a kid, what a kid"

Now the soldiers loved him even more, because the division was awarded a whole keg of vodka. And because the enemy now had no powder, they could sleep for three days in peace. And now the lieutenant said they could even leave the trenches for a short while and stretch a little. Meanwhile, the enemy had to stay in their trenches, and they were furious, because they couldn’t do anything.