World Book Day

Today is World Book Day.
Rather than dress up as my favourite book character (The Count of Monte Cristo) I have chosen to photograph a page from my grandmother's autograph album.

She undertook many cruises between 1903 and about 1918, with many gaps because of The First World War.

Her autograph album, my book choice for today, is lavishly decorated with drawings in mono, others in colour, some mischievous, other reflecting the times.

This extraordinary masterpiece is done in pen and ink with all the shading and cross hatching painstakingly hand drawn.

The words are rather sad

She coveted,
The arrow sped;
The trusting bird fell
To her, dead;
Life's joy lost,
That its plumage rare
Might make one perfect
Seem more fair

Signed
FG
1903

P.S. If you see a theme developing from yesterday's blip, it is just a coincidence.