Kathleen Hale facts for kids
Kathleen Hale (born May 24, 1898 – died January 26, 2000) was a British artist, illustrator, and author of children's books. She is most famous for her popular series of books about Orlando the Marmalade Cat. She was also awarded the OBE for her work.
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Kathleen Hale's Early Life
Kathleen Hale was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, but grew up in Manchester, England. Her father passed away when she was only five years old. After this, her mother took over his job as a traveling salesperson for Chappell's pianos.
From 1903 to 1905, Kathleen lived in a vicarage in Shelf, West Yorkshire. Here, she developed a strong interest in plants, flowers, and drawing. Her childhood was sometimes difficult, and she spent long periods away from her mother. However, her artistic talent was recognized at Manchester High School for Girls by a kind headmistress.
She went on to study art in Manchester. From 1915 to 1917, she attended University College, Reading, where she was taught by Allen W. Seaby.
Becoming an Artist and Author
In 1917, Kathleen Hale moved to London, hoping to become a successful artist. She worked for a time as a secretary for the artist Augustus John. During this period, she met many creative people, including artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.
Throughout the 1920s, Kathleen earned a living as an illustrator. She took on various jobs, creating designs for book covers, posters, and illustrations for children's books. She also sold her own drawings. She continued her art education at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. In 1923, she spent time in Paris, where she met artists Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines.
Kathleen later married Douglas McClean, a doctor who worked in medical research. They settled in Hertfordshire. Kathleen created the character of Orlando the Marmalade Cat and his world to entertain her own children at bedtime. In the late 1930s, she began to publish her series of books about Orlando. These were some of the first picture books made using a printing method called photolithography. In 1941, Orlando's Evening Out became the first storybook for children published by Puffin Books, which is the children's part of Penguin Books.
In 1976, Kathleen Hale was given the OBE award for her contributions.
On October 30, 1994, Kathleen Hale was a special guest on the BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs. She was interviewed by Sue Lawley. On the show, she chose her favorite songs, including a Catalan song called "Cobla La Principal de Peralada". She also picked Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time as her favorite book and a golden djellaba as her luxury item.
Kathleen Hale passed away in Bristol on January 26, 2000, at the age of 101.
Orlando the Marmalade Cat Books
- Orlando the Marmalade Cat: A Camping Holiday (1938)
- Orlando the Marmalade Cat: A Trip Abroad (1939)
- Orlando's Evening Out (1941)
- Orlando the Marmalade Cat: Buys a Farm (1942)
- Orlando's Home Life (1942)
- Orlando the Marmalade Cat: His Silver Wedding (1944)
- Orlando the Marmalade Cat: Becomes a Doctor (1944)
- Orlando's Invisible Pyjamas (1947)
- Orlando the Marmalade Cat: Keeps a Dog (1949)
- Orlando the Judge (1950)
- Orlando the Marmalade Cat: A Seaside Holiday (1952)
- Orlando's Zoo (1954)
- Orlando the Marmalade Cat: The Frisky Housewife (1956)
- Orlando's Magic Carpet (1958)
- Orlando the Marmalade Cat: Buys a Cottage (1963)
- Orlando and the Three Graces (1965)
- Orlando Goes to the Moon (1968)
- Orlando and the Water Cats (1972)
Other Books by Kathleen Hale
- Henrietta, the faithful hen (1943)
- Henrietta's Magic Egg (1973)
- A Slender Reputation: An Autobiography (1994)
