Alfred and the Pirates - The Making of a Children's Book

9 December 2006 - 15 April 2007

Alfred and the Pirates tells the story of the wild adventures of 14-year-old Alfred Appletree who, whilst working on a history project for school, begins to experience overpowering, vivid dreams about the horrors of life on a pirate ship. Before he knows it, the pirates take over his own life. Will the help of a history professor and his friend Josephine Jellicoe be enough for him to escape their terrifying clutches...?

The book, published by Parrot Books (UK) was written by British Museum curator Irving Finkel and expertly illustrated by 15-year-old Emily Donegan.

Irving was first made aware of Emily's talent when she won a competition to design a poster for the British Museum's 250th Anniversary in 2003. With the germ of Alfred and the Pirates already in his mind, Irving asked Emily if she would like to produce accompanying illustrations for his project. Emily agreed and set about creating 93 stunning, mature illustrations for the text and a cover design for the book over a period of three years between the ages of 12 and 15.

The book was launched alongside a special exhibition at the V&A Museum of Childhood on the occasion of its public reopening following a £4.7m redevelopment in December 2006.

Examining this unique illustration process, Alfred and the Pirates - The Making of a Children's Book ran from 11 December 2006 - 1 April 2007. The first exhibition of its kind, it charted the making of this thrilling story from Irving's embryonic thoughts for his pirate tale, the creation of Alfred, how Emily's imaginative illustrations came to life right up to the final publishing of Alfred and the Pirates in 2006.

"Emily has a real talent and I look forward to seeing lots more of her drawings." Quentin Blake

"Thirty pieces of silver, even allowing for inflation, is just not enough for this thrilling adventure." Colin Bateman