Uncle (novel)

Uncle

First edition cover.
Author	J. P. Martin
Illustrator	Quentin Blake
Language	English
Series	The Uncle series
Publisher	Jonathan Cape
Publication date	1964
Publication place	UK
Media type	Print
Pages	160
Followed by	Uncle Cleans Up

Uncle (1964) is a children's novel written by J. P. Martin, the first book of six forming the Uncle series. It is named after the main character, a rich philanthropic elephant who lives in a huge fantastical castle populated by many other eccentric animals and people. It was illustrated, like the others in the series, by Quentin Blake.

Plot summary

A traction engine, Uncle's favourite mode of transport, as most suited to the dignity of an elephant

The book introduces the main characters in the series; Uncle, his helpers, including the Old Monkey, Cloutman, Gubbins and the One-Armed Badger, and his enemies, the Badfort crowd, including Beaver Hateman, Sigismund Hateman, Nailrod Hateman, Filljug Hateman, Jellytussle, Hootman and Hitmouse. After a series of incidents, the Badfort crowd construct a cinema with a hidden iron cage in which they trap Uncle, who is then rescued by a surprise attack by his allies.

Reprint

The book was reprinted in paperback in 2000 by Red Fox (ISBN 0099411415). It was reprinted in a facsimile hardback edition by the New York Review of Books in 2007 and again in 2009 (ISBN 1590172396).

External links

• New York Review of Books reprint and Uncle page