No.86 - Babar The King

It's been a while since I posted anything on here and that's because I've been busy trying to get the first assignment of my MA in, and I am pleased to say that it's finally been posted on its merry way! The focus of the essay was Roald Dahl's classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I hope at some point to be able to share some my ideas with you. It's safe to say that after all that analysis, I will never view the book in the same way again, whether or not that's a good thing I'm yet to decide!

Anyway, to today's text, Babar the King, one of the Babar the Elephant stories, written and illustrated by Jean de Brunhoff in the 1930s. There are a total of seven Babar books, and the loveable elephant is famous world wide. Starting his life in French, Babar's tales have now been translated into 17 languages, and apparently there are 12 Babar shops in Japan! It's clear to see that this elephant has touched the hearts of many!

Babar The King is the third book in Brunhoff's series. In the two previous books Babar's mother is killed by poachers, he is raised by a kind old lady, he is crowned King of the Elephants, he marries his cousin, travels on his honeymoon in a hot air balloon, is stranded on a desert island, kidnapped and forced into a circus and finally he returns home to win the war against the Rhinos! Phew! The third book sees him settling down in the Land of the Elephants, building his own city called Celesteville (after his Queen), and ruling over his adoring subjects. Babar could be described as a sort of friendly dictator, and the book is not without implicit political undertones. You could say it displays elements of both Colonialism and Communism! 

All is well in the idyllic Celesteville (the closeness to the word celestial is no coincidence here I feel!). Life is good, Babar is a very kind dictator and his subject are happy with their lives, thriving in their new community. The book could go on being wonderfully pastoral and jolly, but no, it rather takes a turn for the worse i'm afraid! The Old Lady, who has been Babar's adopted mother figure, gets bitten by a snake, and is rushed to hospital! Thank goodness Babar had considered state funded medicine for his city! The Old Lady is soon in the care of Dr Capoulosse, but her condition is unstable, and Babar is told she may not make it! Cheery for a children's book that started out so nicely!

However, that is not all Babar has to worry about! On his way home he passes Cornelius's house, and sees that it's on fire and poor Cornelius is stuck on the upper floor!! But thank goodness Babar made sure his city had all the emergency services, because the fire brigade are there putting out the blaze, and rescuing Cornelius. Suffering from smoke inhalation and a nasty wound to the head Cornelius is taken to the hospital too. The fire, we are told, was started by Cornelius throwing a match towards his ashtray, missing, and setting his wastepaper bin alight! Surely a message about the perils of smoking!! 

Babar goes to bed very worried about his friends and in his dreams he is visited by Misfortune, and her other negative companions such as Despair, Anger and Discouragement! However, these are quickly followed by a gang of winged elephant angels who bring joy and happiness, and low and behold when we wakes up the Old Lady and Cornelius are well again! 

If I'm totally honest I'm not sure what message we are supposed to take from all this. Babar didn't do anything wrong, so i'm not entirely sure why he was punished, and idyllic life seems to return straight away, unchanged from the way it was before the accidents. Maybe we are being told not to take a lovely life for granted? Ideas on the back of a postcard please!

All in all, the story is rather old fashioned, not really very inspiring, and even a little confusing. Instead it is the loveable characters and Brunhoff's brightly coloured illustrations that hold the appeal. The personified elephants are a joy to behold in their suits and hats going about their business in their perfectly planned city. 

Next time i'll be looking at Joan Aiken's novel The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

Thanks for reading, L x