Freddy and the Ignormus

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Freddy and the Ignormus
Freddy and the Ignormus.jpg
First edition cover showing the attack on the rat’s headquarters
AuthorWalter R. Brooks
IllustratorKurt Wiese
CountryU.S.
LanguageAmerican English
SeriesFreddy the Pig
Genre Children's novel, Comic novel
Published1941 A.A. Knopf, Random House
1998 The Overlook Press
2001 Puffin Books
Media typePrint (hardback and paperback)
Pages282 (pp. 2 – 284)
ISBN 0-87951-882-0 (1998 hardback)
OCLC 39868206
LC Class PZ7.B7994 Fp 1998
Preceded byFreddy’s Cousin Weedly 
Followed by Freddy and the Perilous Adventure  
LCCN   86-139633 (1998 hardback)

Freddy and the Ignormus (1941) is the 8th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig by author Walter R. Brooks and illustrator Kurt Wiese. (It is the last book in the series before the U.S. enters the era of World War II.) There are dramatic reports of a monster in the dark woods near the Bean farm. When local animals are subject to extortion, Freddy and his friends test their bravery confronting the unknown.

Contents

Plot summary

"'When you’re alone,' said Freddy firmly, 'and you hear or see something scares you, the thing to do is walk right up and find out what it is.'" (p. 9)

In answer, the stuttering frog Theodore challenges him to visit the Big Woods. The Woods were owned by Mr. Grimsby, who attacked animals. After he left, the Woods' reputation worsened. Not for the first or last time, Freddy and Theodore find it is easier to be brave when not in the Woods. When startled, they flee outside, only to meet their enemy Simon the Rat, who has seen their flight. He warns about a mysterious, killer "Ignormus".

Simon’s return prompts a general meeting of the F.A.R. (First Animal Republic), a group once organized to tend the farm while the Beans vacationed. Many do not believe that Freddy was in the Big Woods, including Charles the rooster.

"'Or is it, as some old legends tell, a bird with the head of a lion?...Is its name, as Simon says, the Ignormus? No one knows.'
'If you just got up to tell us that you don’t know anything,' said Old Whibley...'you can sit down again. We knew that before.'" (p. 51)

Freddy dares Charles to go into the Big Woods with him. Charles is frightened, but his wife Henrietta bullies him. The rooster and Freddy arrive independently in the woods. Freddy’s imagination turns a sighting of the rooster into a creature with a long snout and tail feathers. Charles in turn mistakes the pig. After Charles brags widely, they discover that they only saw one other.

The animal’s bank is robbed, the Ignormus is suspected. Freddy disguises himself as a hunter, borrowing Mr. Bean’s shotgun. While investigating the old Grismby house Freddy fires at what he thinks is a snake, knocking himself out. When he revives the shotgun is missing. At the farm, the practical cow, Mrs. Wiggins modestly questions why such a terrible Ignormus would not confront Freddy. "'I don’t know what I mean...I just say what I think. You’re smart. It’s up to you to figure out what I mean.'" (p. 130)

The Bean farm is robbed, and missing items are found in Freddy’s pigpen. Freddy gets a report that animals are being threatened in the name of the Ignormus. Investigating, an extortion letter in familiar handwriting is found. Jinx the cat is unimpressed with the pig’s deductions:

"'To the eye of the trained detective nothing is ever just what it seems to be.'
'What does that make you, then?' said the cat." (p. 160)

Suspiciously, walking the Big Woods road, seeking the letter writer, they once again meet Simon. Then a huge white shape with horns floats from the woods, and they flee. Returning to the Grimsby house, the missing shotgun is pointed at Freddy and Theodore from a window. Retreating to the bridge where the animals are leaving goods extorted from them, they encounter Charles talking with the Ignormus’ small henchman. Hidden, Freddy mimics the henchman’s voice, insulting the rooster and sending him into a fighting fury. Charles wins the fight (and gains the reputation that follows him through the rest of the series). They discover that the henchman is Simon’s son just before he escapes.

Frightened animals are starting to leave the farm when Freddy gives a speech pointing out that they are "deserting under fire". Animal patriotism and fighting spirit are roused. A beetle volunteers to climb up the shotgun barrels to gnaw out the gunshot. F.A.R. president Mrs. Wiggins organizes her troops. Charging the Grimsby house, they are halted by Simon. But he just has insults and seeks no compromise. The charge continues, the gun goes off, the gunpowder alone slightly injuring Freddy. The house is overrun, but they only find Simon and his gang. Old Whibley the owl reveals the final mystery, dropping on Freddy the weighted bedsheet used to allow the "Ignormus" to drift through air. Mrs. Bean is sympathetic about the rats' trials, and they accept her offer of hospitality, except Simon, "I don’t want kind words, and I don’t deserve them." (p. 278) The rest of the animals throw a party. But at the end, Jinx observes that there will always be "Ignormuses".

Illustrations

There are 32 black and white, pen and ink drawings by Kurt Wiese. Each chapter starts with a half page illustration, while a full page illustration is placed close to an event within each chapter. Endpapers and a full color cover depict scenes from the book.

Critical reception

Each book in the series received moderately positive to strongly positive critical review in sources such as the Times Literary Supplement , and Hornbook, The New York Times , and Kirkus Reviews

Library Journal (September 1, 1941) "The children who have eagerly followed the adventures of Farmer Bean's talking animals since the first story, To and Again, was published will hail with delight this new story of Freddy, the poetic pig...Kurt Wiese's humorous illustrations well portray the events in the solving of this rollicking animal mystery story."

Books (October 26, 1941) "The undeniable charm of this story, like the earlier Freddy books, is not in morals, but in crisp talk between the animals. This goes on in good American; a better language can't be found for give-and-take. I don't know that any one has called attention to a basic likeness in character between Freddy and Pooh; Freddy is not a pet, he is less wistful, but he has the same innocent vanity and boundless good will." [1]

History

An early review is September 1, 1941, placing the writing several months before the attack at Pearl Harbor, while war was gathering. The first edition was published in hardcover in 1941 by A.A. Knopf. [2] The price was $2.00 (over $23.00 in 2009 USD). [3] The book was republished in 1998 by the Overlook Press [4] using the original illustrations, text and layout. It was republished by Puffin Books in 2001. [5]

Related Research Articles

Freddy the Pig is the central figure in a series of 26 children's books written between 1927 and 1958 by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese, consisting of 25 novels and one poetry collection. The books focus on the adventures of a group of animals living on a farm in rural upstate New York.

<i>Freddy Goes to Florida</i>

Freddy Goes to Florida (1927), is the first of the Freddy the Pig books written by Walter R. Brooks. It tells how the animals of the Bean Farm traveled to Florida and back again, and their adventures on the way.

<i>Freddy Goes to the North Pole</i>

Freddy goes to the North Pole (1930) is the second of the Freddy the Pig books written by Walter R. Brooks. It tells of how the animals of the Bean Farm went to rescue some of their animals friends who went on an expedition to the North Pole.

Kurt Wiese was a German-born book illustrator, who wrote and illustrated 20 children's books and illustrated another 300 for other authors.

<i>Freddy Rides Again</i> 1951 childrens book by Walter R. Brooks

Freddy Rides Again (1951) is the 18th book in the children’s series Freddy the Pig, written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In it, the talking Bean farm animals confront rich new neighbors who demand changes in the farm community.

<i>Freddy and Mr. Camphor</i>

Freddy and Mr. Camphor (1944) is the 11th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig, written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells of Freddy's adventures confronting trespassers when he takes a job as an estate caretaker.

<i>Freddy and the Men from Mars</i>

Freddy and the Men from Mars (1954) is the 22nd book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig, written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells the story of the confrontation between Freddy and his friends, phony Martians, real Martians, and a circus con artist.

<i>Freddy the Magician</i>

Freddy the Magician (1947) is the 14th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Freddy is ecstatic over the opportunity to learn magic tricks from a professional. However, it becomes apparent that this is part of a criminal plot to recover stolen money. Freddy and the Bean animals match their magic and wits onstage and offstage against the crooked magician.

<i>Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars</i>

Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars (1955) is the 23rd book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig by American author Walter R. Brooks, illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Capitalizing on Martians' ability to pitch with any of four arms, Freddy creates a baseball team of Martians and circus animals to compete against neighboring towns. An old foe of Freddy's tries to rig the games.

<i>Freddy Goes Camping</i>

Freddy Goes Camping (1948) is the 15th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. When a hotel owner is forced to sell under mysterious circumstances, Freddy and his friend Mr. Camphor pose as campers to investigate.

<i>Freddy the Pilot</i>

Freddy the Pilot (1952) is the 19th book in the humorous children's Freddy the Pig series written by Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. When an airplane from a secret airstrip terrorizes the performances of his friend Mr. Boomschmidt's circus, Freddy learns to fly, then gets a plane to track the criminals and stop their activities.

<i>Freddy the Pied Piper</i>

Freddy the Pied Piper (1946) is the 14th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells the tale of regathering circus animals following World War II, and of earning money to repair the disused circus equipment.

<i>The Collected Poems of Freddy the Pig</i>

The Collected Poems of Freddy the Pig (1953) is the brief 21st book in the humorous American children's series Freddy the Pig. The entire series, which otherwise comprises 25 novels, was written by Walter R. Brooks, illustrated by Kurt Wiese, and published by Alfred A. Knopf. The Collected Poems is primarily a reissue of poems and songs that had appeared in the first 20 novels, although it contains some new poems by Brooks and new illustrations by Wiese. One cover notes, "If it seems a bit hammy in spots, that is to be expected." It was republished in 1962 by Random House, and again in 2001 by the Overlook Press.

<i>Freddy and the Dragon</i>

Freddy and the Dragon (1958) is the 26th and last book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Freddy's attempts to catch the gang extorting money from Centerboro's city folk are hindered by a headless horseman. The dragon created as a circus attraction becomes a tool in fighting crime. The Bean animals settle accounts with the gang and with a long-standing foe.

<i>Freddy and the Bean Home News</i>

Freddy and the Bean Home News (1943) is the tenth book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. The story takes place when the United States was in the middle of World War II.

<i>Freddy and Simon the Dictator</i>

Freddy and Simon the Dictator (1956) is the 24th book in the generally humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells how animals in New York State rebel against humans, destroying property and taking control of farms. At the same time, Freddy’s friend Mr. Camphor is pressured into running for governor. The situations collide when animals take over Camphor’s estate, imprisoning the political figures there.

<i>Freddy the Politician</i>

Freddy the Politician (1939) is the 6th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In this story, the Bean farm animals start a bank, and elect their first president, two institutions appearing through the rest of the series. Their honest and innocent approach is soon challenged by strangers from Washington.

<i>Freddy Plays Football</i>

Freddy Plays Football (1949) is the 16th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In it, Freddy and the Bean animals try to convince the Beans that Mrs. Bean’s long lost brother is a fake. Freddy lands in jail for stealing the money the fake is attempting to take. In the meanwhile Centerboro is taken with football fever on account of Freddy's playing.

<i>Freddy and the Perilous Adventure</i>

Freddy and the Perilous Adventure (1942) is the ninth book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Freddy, ducks Alice and Emma, and the Webb spiders are cast on a voyage when a fairground balloon will not return to the ground. Days later when landing, Freddy must confront the dishonest balloon owner who received money from Mr. Bean for damages.

Hilary Stebbing (1915-1996) was an artist, illustrator and children's author particularly associated with Puffin Books, and active in the United Kingdom from the 1940s to the 1960s.

References