Not just photography
I think I first experienced Ralph Steadman’s work much like a lot of us, in the pages of Rolling Stone when it appeared with the work of Hunter S Thompson. I was probably too young to really grasp Thompson’s “gonzo journalism” but the illustration I totally got!
Since then I’ve loved anything of Steadman’s and I realized I have 4 books in my collection. Here they are in order of how I purchased them.
Steadman is actaully incredibly prolific, publishing several books on a variety of topics ranging from the history of Whiskey, Leonardo Da Vinci, cats dogs, wine, Sigmund Freud,and birds.
Here’s the write up on this one:
Genuine weirdness is a rare quality. To be truly weird demands character and wanton disregard for the social mores of the day.
Unleashed in Tales of the Weirrd is Ralph Steadman’s fantastic interpretations and biographies of nineteenth century grotesques, oddities, imposters and eccentrics. The book is a hilarious catalog of nature’s freakish humor and, in the best Victorian tradition, it instructs as well as entertains. This crazy collection of dwarfs, and gluttons, wits and water-spouters
Charles Charlesworth, who grew a beard at age four and died of old age at the age of seven Old Boots, who could hold a piece of money between his nose and chin Barbara Urselin, the hairy-faced woman Henry Lemoine, an eccentric bookseller Guillaume de Nittis, who tried to eat himself Fakir Agastiya, who kept his arm in the air for ten years Neville Vadio, the blind caricaturist, who was claimed by many to be a better draughtsman than Rembrandt. Tales of the Weirrd is an extraordinary celebration of the bizarre brought to life by the astonishing energy, imagination and power of Ralph Steadman’s pen.
Yup all sorts of oddities!
Steadman’s illustrated version the Animal Farm.
His style is well suited for this classic. This story remains so relevant to today and Steadman’s distinct style match the urgency this story has today.
I followed Ralph’s updates on his website, yes he’s still going! So I was extremely excited tolerant of the release of this massive book in a limited run so I snapped it up immediately.
PROUD TOO BE WEIRRD is the ultimate monograph of this creative genius. Steadman’s first-person narrative takes us on a literary and visual journey of his well-known, provocative work and is accompanied by his acerbic wit, heartfelt political views, and unique sense of humor. This must-have book comes in two collectible editions.
While it’s true it’s a massive collection of his work, I can’t say I enjoyed the musing and ramblings in the text, I found it far too hard to follow along. So as big as it is, I’d say half of it could dropped. It didn’t include some of my favourite work of his but I am still very glad to own it!
So then about 7 years later this one came out.
Ralph A Life in Ink is a must-have celebration of the artist’s important and influential career.
This comprehensive monograph on the life and work of Ralph Steadman collects work from his dozens of books from his 50-plus year career.
If you were to purchase only one book of Steadman’s work this would be the one! Traces his entire career from the 60’s all the way up to the present! It includes some of his best know work ands insights on the work from Ralph himself.
Check out some videos on Ralph he’s quite the character! the second one was only a month ago!