Balyn and Balan
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Clarke, Graham. Balyn and Balan. Boughton Monchelsea, Kent: Ebenezer Press, n.d. [1970]. One of an edition of 100 plus 25 artist's proofs. The 18 pp. of text and the title page are cut by hand on blocks obtained from the wood of a single apple tree and the 23 illustrations are cut from wood and lino. These are combined to form 16 folded sheets which are hand printed on Mellotex High White Cartridge using a Cogger [1820] printing press. The English Yew folio covers are made by Geo Coulter Ltd.
Clarke tells the story of Malory's ill-fated brothers Balyn and Balan in a simplified and abbreviated form. His text is based on Roger Lancelyn Green's reworking of Malory in King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The very simplified story serves as a frame for Clarke's imaginative illustrations. For example, he represents the knight Garlon's invisibility by greying him out.