Published in October 2007, this is another of the major four-colour books printed out-of-house but entirely conceived, organised, designed and typeset by one person (as all my books are). It was a second collaboration with Malcolm Yorke, whose earlier book on Edward Bawden for this Press was a great success.

Ardizzone's Diary of a War Artist has hitherto been the only book relating to his wartime experiences in many British locations as well as on the front line in France, Belgium, Italy, North Africa, Sicily, Denmark and Germany; it consists of the edited diaries which the artist kept during his travels. To War with Paper and Brush traces and assesses this extraordinary wartime path, and is illustrated with a great many original watercolours, line-drawings and photographs.

The book runs to 162 pages, and in true Fleece Press style is very heavily illustrated. Printed in Sheffield by Northend on the uncoated but smooth and classy Monadnock Dulcet paper in an edition of 600 copies (the colophon mistakenly reads 700), all copies are bound in full Record Leinen cloth with an accompanying slipcase.

The book is £212 (slipcase included), with postage £6.

For a perceptive review of the book and assessment of the Press’ books, see the Spectator review by Paul Johnson here: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/and-another-thing-21-march-2009. His final sentence reads ‘Lawrence is a public benefactor in making the work of such artists as Ravilious and Ardizzone more generally available, and I salute his achievement.’

A detailed prospectus has been made for this book and will be sent on request.