Bargains! PROMOTIONS
Richard W. Hatch (1898-1985)grew up in Pennsylvania but lived for most of hisadult life in Marshfield, Massachusetts, in a housethat had been continuously occupied by his familysince the middle of the seventeenth century. Aftergraduating from the University of Pennsylvania in1918, he joined the US Naval Reserve Flying Corpsand later served during World War II. It was whilestationed on an aircraft carrier that he came upwith the idea of writing about the adventures of avery old lobster. From 1925 to 1941 Hatch taughtEnglish at Deerfield Academy, eventually becominghead of the English Department, and during the1950s he lectured at the Center for InternationalStudies at MIT. In addition to his books for children,he also wrote novels for adults set in coastalMassachusetts towns. Marion Freeman Wakeman (1891-1953)was born in Montclair, New Jersey, and attendedSmith College before joining the Art StudentsLeague. She was a member of the National Associationof Women Artists and exhibited her work atthe National Academy of Design, the Montclair ArtMuseum, and Smith College.
There is a homely wisdom and a pithy philosophy in the Mr. Lobster stories which adults as well as children enjoy. This book shows, too, a genuine love of out of doors; sea and woods and meadow.... So convincing are the haunts of Mr. Lobster and his friends that the city dweller reading this book feels that he too, has withdrawn for a little into a place where he is aware of sunrise and sunset, stars and tides, as a part of the beauty and eventfulness of life.... The drawings by Marion Wakeman have distinction and beauty and are keyed to the humor and imagination of the text. --The New York Times Book Review A very entertaining story of a lobster whose curiousity led him far afield and into all sorts of adventures. Delightfully illustrated. --Kirkus Reviews
