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I like looking at illustrations in old books. Pictures can be an important part of the book, and adults as well as children can enjoy them. The picture above this column comes from an original illustration to one of Charles Dickens's stories, The Pickwick Papers. It is by a famous illustrator called Hablot Knight Brown.
You can see and enjoy the winter atmosphere in this picture, the ice, and the people out trying to enjoy themselves. The man in the middle, sliding, is Mr Pickwick. There is a crowd around him, with women and men watching and dressed warmly; one man has fallen over, perhaps trying to slide or skate. There is a little animal too, a dog, who wonders what is going on.
In the background, we can see the trees and houses drawn by the illustrator, giving us a view of the old-fashioned countryside. The atmosphere of the picture helps the story and can be enjoyed by itself.
If you like describing pictures to practise your English, you might like to try this lesson, Picture descriptions from book illustrations. I will choose a picture for you, funny or serious, colour or black and white, and you can have a go!
