Posy Simmonds is the author and illustrator of many books for adults and children, including Literary Life, Lulu and the Flying Babies and Fred, the film of which was nominated for an Oscar. Simmonds’ style gently satirises the English middle classes and in particular those of a literary bent. Her published books often feature a “doomed heroine”, much in the style of the 18th- and 19th-century gothic romantic novel, to which they often allude, but with an ironic, modernist slant.
Simmonds has contributed a series of weekly cartoon strips to the Guardian since 1977, and has won international awards for her work. Her graphic novel, Gemma Bovery, was acclaimed by the critics for its wit and wickedly sharp observation A.N.Wilson called it ‘a work of genius’ and more than one reviewer suggested that it should be entered for the Booker Prize; it was made into a feature film, directed by Anne Fontaine in 2014 – to be released in the UK in 2015. Another graphic novel Tamara Drewe became a very successful feature film directed by Stephen Frears.
“Posy Simmonds is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of a handful of absolutely brilliant cartoonists currently working in the English language… Few cartoonists have demonstrated the range that Simmonds has displayed over the years. Jules Feiffer would be an obvious comparison, but even Feiffer lacked the sheer density of Simmonds’ most accomplished pieces.” Bart Beaty, The Comics Journal #227
Falmouth Campus Lecture Theatre, Woodlane
Tickets free but booking essential: posysimmondsfalmouth.eventbrite.co.uk
Falmouth School of Art 