Ludwig Bemelmans (Amanda Abuali)

**Ludwig Bemelmans**

**Biographical Information:**

Born in Meran as the son of a Belgian artist and a German brewer’s daughter, Ludwig Bemelmans was recognized as Austrian-Hungarian at the time of his birth. When Bemelmans was only six years of age, his parents divorced, leaving a French governess to care for him. The governess was pregnant by his father at the time she was caring for young Benelmans. Unfortunately, she took her life when she found him with another lover.

After the death of Bemelmans father’s mistress, Bemelmans mother took Bemelmans to Germany, where he was expected to attend school. Bemelmans was not able to speak any language without having an accent. Mr. Bemelmans worked at a hotel, and received different job statuses and high titles in them as well. It was only then that Bemelmans felt that is not what his heart truly wanted; therefore, he quit his job and decided to follow in his father's footsteps and become an artist. Despite writing more than 50 books, which included movie scripts, memoirs, and adult-fiction books, he still considered himself an artist, not a writer. Many believe this was done to connect himself with his father that abandoned him when he was younger.

In an interview with Mr. Bemelmans (undated), he stated: “I like to write for children because I suffer from a sort of arrested development. I am about six years old really, and I am constantly surprised by everything”. His mention of having the mentality of a six-year old child portrays how scaring his parents split was. Bemelmans was age six when his parents split, so he is trying to say he was never the same after that.

**Themes/motifs**

The main themes in Bemelmans books were children acting out due to the lack of parental attention. This was the case in his famous book “Madeline”. The other girls in the story cried after seeing Madeline getting attention after being hospitalized. This ties back to the lack of attention Bemelmans received when growing up since his parents were separated. A series of books were created off of the original Madeline, where the theme stayed the same.

**Writing/artistic style:**

Due to Bemelmans connection with art, through his father, most of Bemelmans books contained images and illustrations. His most popular writing included picture books for children. Bemelmans compared his effortless art with a person ‘slapping” on whipping cream on a plate: “I sketch with facility and speed,” he wrote. “The drawing has to sit on the paper as if you smacked a spoon of whipped cream on a plate.” Most of his children's books mainly focus on the art in them, and have few sentences. When Bemelmans writes his sentences, he always makes sure to make his sentences rhyme.

**Madeline series:**

In the year of 1935, Bemelmans married a woman named Madeline, nicknamed Mimi by her friends. Bemelmans was so smitten with his wife that he decided to make a book with the main character and his wife share the same name. This was how the famous book “Madeline” came to be.

The story of Madeline is about 12 girls, the youngest of them named Madeline, who lived in an old house covered in vines in the city of Paris. The girls were taken care of by a lady named Miss Clavel. The girls would do all of their daily tasks such as eating, taking walks and even brushing their teeth in two straight lines. Madeline always stood out from those girls. She was not afraid of rodents, tigers at the zoo and would scare Miss Clavel with her dangerous actions, such as standing on the cliff of a bridge. “In the middle of one night, Miss Clavel turned on her light and said, ‘Something is not right!” Madeline was feeling ill and was taken to the hospital. She had her appendix removed and as a result, got a scar on her stomach. Madeleines toys were filled with toys and flowers after her surgery.

At the time of its production, Madeline goods were produced, which includes dolls, children apparel and school supplies. Ludwig Bemelmans most memorable book, Madeline, is still read to children today.

**Criticism**

Many adults believed Bemelmans should not be able to write children books since he is not a role model. Growing up, he worked at a restaurant during his teenage years in Europe. Since he was young, the European police offered Bemelman the opportunity of leaving the United States, if he didn’t, he would be arrested.

**Awards:**

* “The Golden Basket”
	+ 1937 Newbery Medal For children books
* Madeline (The Original)
	+ 1940 Caldecott Medal for best picture book
	+ 2009 Indies Choice Book Award
	+ 2019 Indies Choice Book Award
* “Madeline's Rescue” (Spin-Off of the original Madeline book)
	+ 1943 Caldecott Medal for best picture book

**Other information**

* Bemelmans always considered himself more an artist-illustrator than a writer, and later in life he became a serious painter. His work is on display in the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Museé National d'Art of Paris.
* His wife’s name is Madeline, “Ludwig named the star of his books after his wife.”
* The books were later adapted as a short animated cartoon and television series.

**References**

1. https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/dec/24/madeline-by-ludwig-bemelmans-bright-mischief-quiet-melancholy
2. https://www.societyillustrators.org/ludwig-bemelmans
3. https://www.fictiondb.com/author/ludwig-bemelmans~book-awards~65414.htm
4. https://lithub.com/ludwig-bemelmans-beloved-author-of-madeline-once-shot-a-man/
5. https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/dec/24/madeline-by-ludwig-bemelmans-bright-mischief-quiet-melancholy
6. http://www.madeline.com/history.html
7. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/lbemelmans.htm