Today I picked up this October 1973 issue of 'Look and Learn' at the Bourne Mill antiques and bric-a-brac market near Farnham. As well as "another in our series about strange disappearances"; in this case the 9th Legion's absence from the historical record once they wandered past Hadrian's Wall, we have articles about 'the secret signs of the Romanies', cartoon versions of Spartacus and the Trials of Sir Isumbras, a cheery, upbeat guide to the Isle of Man, and the derring-do of "Eagles over the Western Front", wherein a foolish young aviator challenges Baron Manfred von Richtofen himself to an aerial duel. I don't remember reading 'Look and Learn' when i was a kid but it is very charming, and I wonder if there's anything similar today.
3 comments:
I remember having piles of these around the house when I was growing up - I'm not sure if we ever bought them but suspect they were a result of my mum's fondness for jumble sales!
Hazel (my partner) is currently reading one of her childhood favourites Eagle of the Ninth...
yeah i'm sure i have a copy of the eagle of the ninth in the house - i was actually looking for it the other day. the lost ninth legion also features in alan garner's 'red shift'. btw, look and learn's theory is that rather than being annihilated in the woods by ferocious caledonians, they were quietly disbanded after too many defeats had sapped morale.
I've been inspired by your blog to add a tribute to Look and Learn on my MySpace blog @ http://blog.myspace.com/georgedhenderson
I don't suppose there is anything like it FOR CHILDREN any more.
When I was a tot, I onced got so wrapped up in a friend's new (unread by him) Look and Learn (incorporating Eagle) on a playdate that he pulled it from my hands and ripped it up in front of me. Verily, it was that good!
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