The Tyger Voyage

The Tyger Voyage
by Richard Adams with illustrations by Nicola Bayley/published 1976 by Alfred A. Knopf

Most kids born in the seventies of a certain ilk had this book. This is my original childhood edition, though I think technically way back then it belonged to my sister. She loves tigers, and I think the reason might have been largely based on these pages. (As I am writing this, maybe I should send it to her? Duh.)

Anyway, mysterious and wonderful, the story is meant for any child with adventure in their hearts. A tiger father and his son set sail on a voyage from Victorian England to nowhere and end up stranded on a shore where volcanoes erupt and gypsies become their only ally.

For days, till all their food was gone,
Through woods and swamps, they struggled on,
Crossing on rafts the muddy lakes
Infested with bright water-snakes.

This picture in particular used to scare the crap out of me... The snakes are literally coming out of everywhere. CREEPY. Come to think of it, my sister has a deathly fear of snakes, and again, maybe it was born out of this picture too. Wow.