Michael Bond - Love from Paddington

First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2014

First published in paperback in 2015

This edition published in 2018

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Text copyright © Michael Bond 2014

Illustrations for here , preface, letters 14and 15, here by R.W. Alley copyright © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2008, 2012, 2014 All other illustrations copyright © Peggy Fortnum and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1979

Cover illustrations adapted and coloured by Mark Burgess from the originals by Peggy Fortnum

Jacket illustration © Peggy Fortnum and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 1979

Jacket Design © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2014

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Source ISBN: 9780008164355

Ebook Edition © 2014 ISBN: 9780007594207

Version: 2019-05-24

CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

A Letter from Michael Bond

Preface

Letter No. 2

Letter No. 3

Letter No. 4

Letter No. 5

Letter No. 6

Letter No. 7

Letter No. 8

Letter No. 9

Letter No. 10

Letter No. 11

Letter No. 12

Letter No. 13

Letter No. 14

Letter No. 15

A Letter from Aunt Lucy

Keep Reading …

About the Author

By the same author

About the Publisher

Dear Reader

In a world that has rapidly accustomed itself to communicating by email, Paddington is equally rapidly becoming something of an oddity, for he steadfastly remains wedded to what has become jocularly known as SNAIL MAIL, and long may it remain so, for there is nothing quite so heart warming as a hand-written letter.

In Paddington’s case, being a bear, the use of a keyboard is too tedious for words because each stroke of a paw embraces a half dozen or so characters, which is no use to man nor beast. Short of pressing each key down with the aid of a pencil, which is too tedious for all but the shortest words, there is no way out of the problem.

Luckily, nearly all his letters are written to his Aunt Lucy, who lives in the Home for Retired Bears in Peru. Luckier still, being a wise old bear she has kept them all, for she foresaw how valuable they would become with age.

If you are new to Paddington, then you will find lots of fresh stories to read and enjoy. If you have encountered them all before, then they will still make fun reading, for they are Paddington’s take on his many adventures, which are not necessarily the same as that of the other characters involved.

Either way, there is something for all who simply enjoy a good read.

Yours truly

Michael Bond

One night, many moons ago, the ocean liner S.S. Karenia left the Peruvian port of Lima in South America and set sail for Europe.

There was nothing unusual in that, for it was a regular crossing carrying as many passengers as it could take, along with a full crew to look after their every need during the voyage.

However, on this particular occasion, unbeknown to the Captain, they had a stowaway aboard. He had been smuggled onto the ship at the very last moment by his aunt, and he was hiding under a sheet of tarpaulin in one of the lifeboats.

“Now, promise me you will write,” she said, as the liner’s siren gave an impatient wail that echoed round the harbour.

“I promise to write as soon as I get the chance,” said the bear.

“I’ve filled your suitcase with jars of marmalade for the journey,” said his aunt. “And I have paid one of the crew to make sure you never run short of drinking water.”

While she was talking she tied a large label round her nephew’s neck. “I’ve knotted the string twice over,” she said, “so it shouldn’t come apart. But you may find it very useful, so do take care of it.”

“Thank you, Aunt Lucy,” said the bear, raising his hat. “You are very kind.” He would have preferred cocoa, but he was much too polite to say so.

In any case there was no time for more as the gap between the Karenia and the quay began to widen and his aunt had to make good her escape by sliding down a rope.

She only just managed to avoid falling into the harbour and by the time she had righted herself a wall of darkness separated her from the lifeboat.

She wiped away a tear as she waved a last goodbye into the pitch black night. “I hope I’ve done the right thing,” she said, when she arrived back at the Home. “It feels as though I have lost a part of myself.”

“Of course you’ve done the right thing,” said the oldest inhabitant. She stopped knitting and set her rocking chair in motion to emphasise the point.

“This is no place for a young cub full of the joys of spring. That bear needs to go out into the world. We shall hear more about him before the year is out … you mark my words.”

“I wish I’d given him a good book to read,” said Aunt Lucy.

“You will need one yourself by the time the Karenia reaches the end of its journey,” said another bear.