Mary Plain
Encyclopedia
Mary Plain is a bear character in British children's literature
who features in a series of novels based around her adventures. The character was created by the Welsh
authoress Gwynedd Rae
and first appeared in the book Mostly Mary in 1930. The last original book, Mary Plain's Whodunnit, was published in 1965. The books were reissued as paperbacks in the 1970s, and new editions of Mostly Mary and All Mary were published in the 1990s.
. Similarly, although Mary learns to write, she does not wear clothes. Mary and her family live in the Bear Pits
at Berne
, in Switzerland
. In October 2009 a new Bären Park next to the Aare river replaced the former bear pit.
Mary's behaviour is much like that of a small child, with the Owl Man acting as a surrogate parent, guiding her through life and helping her out of trouble.
and to feature a Blue Peter
presenter instead of the older Uncle Mac
from Children's Hour
.
. From the third book onward, and in subsequent editions of the first two books, the illustrations were by Irene Williamson. New illustrations by Janina Ede were commissioned for the Knight Books reprints in the late 1960s and 1970s.
in the 1930s and have featured on the long-running BBC Television
series Jackanory
in 1969 with actor Richard Wattis
reading the books.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
who features in a series of novels based around her adventures. The character was created by the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
authoress Gwynedd Rae
Gwynedd Rae
Gwynedd Rae was the author of a number of books for children, about a bear called Mary Plain. Her stories were read on BBC Radio Children's Hour in the 1930s and by Richard Wattis on BBC TV Jackanory in 1969.-Publications in date order:...
and first appeared in the book Mostly Mary in 1930. The last original book, Mary Plain's Whodunnit, was published in 1965. The books were reissued as paperbacks in the 1970s, and new editions of Mostly Mary and All Mary were published in the 1990s.
Characters and story
Mary Plain and her bear family feature in the stories, but the main characters are Mary and her human friend, The Owl Man. Known as this because of his spectacles, he is kind to Mary and indulgent. He often takes her on outings. Mary and her friends can speak, but although anthropomorphic in that respect and in aspects of their behaviour, the authoress is careful to point out that she is not a teddy bearTeddy bear
The teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear. They are usually stuffed with soft, white cotton and have smooth and soft fur. It is an enduring form of a stuffed animal in many countries, often serving the purpose of entertaining children. In recent times, some teddy bears have become collector's items...
. Similarly, although Mary learns to write, she does not wear clothes. Mary and her family live in the Bear Pits
Bärengraben
The Bärengraben, or Bear Pit, is a well-known tourist attraction, an enclosure housing bears at the eastern edge of the Old City of Bern, next to the Nydeggbrücke and the Aare River. The bear is a symbol of Bern, both the city and canton, and is featured in Bern's coat of arms.The first records of...
at Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
, in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. In October 2009 a new Bären Park next to the Aare river replaced the former bear pit.
Mary's behaviour is much like that of a small child, with the Owl Man acting as a surrogate parent, guiding her through life and helping her out of trouble.
Style
The books are written in chapter form, with illustrations throughout and on the cover (front cover on original editions, front and back on paperback editions). The cover illustrations were updated in the 1970s and the references in some books were updated to change the currency to decimal coinageDecimalisation
Decimal currency is the term used to describe any currency that is based on one basic unit of currency and a sub-unit which is a power of 10, most commonly 100....
and to feature a Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
presenter instead of the older Uncle Mac
Derek McCulloch
Derek Ivor Breashur McCulloch OBE was a BBC Radio presenter and producer, who is best remembered as "Uncle Mac" in Children's Favourites and Children's Hour and for playing 'Larry the Lamb' in Toytown.-Early life:...
from Children's Hour
Children's Hour
Children's Hour—at first: "The Children's Hour", from a verse by Longfellow—was the name of the BBC's principal recreational service for children during the period when radio dominated broadcasting....
.
Illustrators
The original illustrator for Mostly Mary and All Mary was Harry RountreeHarry Rountree
Harry Rountree was a prolific illustrator working in England around the turn of the 19/20th centuries. He came from New Zealand in 1901 to London, when he was 23 years old....
. From the third book onward, and in subsequent editions of the first two books, the illustrations were by Irene Williamson. New illustrations by Janina Ede were commissioned for the Knight Books reprints in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Radio and television adaptations
Mary Plain stories were read on the BBC Radio Children's HourChildren's Hour
Children's Hour—at first: "The Children's Hour", from a verse by Longfellow—was the name of the BBC's principal recreational service for children during the period when radio dominated broadcasting....
in the 1930s and have featured on the long-running BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
series Jackanory
Jackanory
Jackanory is a long-running BBC children's television series that was designed to stimulate an interest in reading. The show was first transmitted on 13 December 1965, the first story being the fairy-tale Cap o' Rushes read by Lee Montague. Jackanory continued to be broadcast until 24 March 1996,...
in 1969 with actor Richard Wattis
Richard Wattis
Richard Cameron Wattis , was an English character actor.He attended King Edward's School, Birmingham and Bromsgrove School, after which he worked for the family electrical engineering firm before becoming a professional actor. After his debut with Croydon Repertory Theatre he made many stage...
reading the books.
Books
- 1930: Mostly Mary
- 1931: All Mary
- 1935: Mary Plain in Town
- 1937: Mary Plain on Holiday
- 1940: Mary Plain in Trouble
- 1942: Mary Plain in War-Time
- 1944: Mary Plain's Big Adventure
- 1949: Mary Plain Home Again
- 1950: Mary Plain to the Rescue
- 1951: Mary Plain, V.I.P.
- 1952: Mary Plain and the Twins
- 1954: Mary Plain Goes Bob-a-Jobbing
- 1957: Mary Plain Goes to America
- 1965: Mary Plain's “Whodunit”