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 14 and 15, here by R.W. Alley copyright © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2008, 2012, 2014 All other illustrations copyright © Peggy Fortnum and HarperCollinsPublishers 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 HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 1979
Jacket Design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2014
The author and illustrators assert the moral right to be identified as the author and illustrators of the work.
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Source ISBN: 9780008164355
Ebook Edition © 2014 ISBN: 9780007594207
Version: 2019-05-24
CONTENTS
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
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,