Children’s author Michael Bond, creator of one of Britain’s most beloved characters, Paddington Bear, has passed away at the age of 91.
His publisher, HarperCollins, stated Mr. Bond died at home following a short illness.
“Michael Bond was one of the great children’s writers.
“He was a wonderful man and leaves behind one of the great literary legacies of our time.”
— Charlie Redmayne, HarperCollins chief executive
The official Paddington Twitter account posted this tribute to the late author:
Today is a very sad day. Michael Bond CBE will be missed by many. pic.twitter.com/ZoCb5sU2V9
— Paddington (@paddingtonbear) June 28, 2017
Bond was one of Britain’s most prolific writers. He consistently maintained a seven-day week writing schedule. According to the author, “I just press a button and there are words on the screen and off I go. If I had an office up the road, I’d take time off, but I don’t. And that’s my life. It’s not a grumble. I can’t think what I’d do if I didn’t write.”
Since 1958 when the first book “A Bear called Paddington” was published, he has written more than 150 titles about Paddington. His books have been translated into more than 40 different languages.
“For him, writing was his life. It was wonderful he could continue writing until the end.
“Because Paddington and his other characters were so real to him, he became alive to everybody else.”
— Karen Jankel, daughter
Paddington’s big heart and infectious enthusiasm for life has made him a classic character in children’s literature. While Michael Bond may no longer be with us, his stories will live on, continuing to delight children all over the world for generations to come.