Chimney Town – Illus. Ida Rentoul Outhwaite 1934 | 1st Edition

Chimney Town is a charming and whimsical Australian children’s picture book,  first published in 1934. The story, written by Tarella Quin Daskein, is a lighthearted verse narrative that follows the adventures of two young children, Biddy and Bren, who are magically whisked away from their nursery to the fantastical world of Chimney Town. This hidden realm, inhabited by a society of cheerful chimney sweeps and their leader, King Soot, exists atop the rooftops and within the chimneys of the ordinary world.

The book’s enduring fame and primary appeal, however, lie almost entirely in the exquisite illustrations by the renowned Australian artist Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. A master of the “fairylogue” style, Outhwaite was celebrated for her incredibly detailed and delicate pen-and-ink drawings, often touched with color. Her artwork for Chimney Town is a delightful departure from her more common themes of fairies and elves, instead focusing on the playful, soot-smudged characters of the chimney sweeps.

Outhwaite’s illustrations bring the verse to life with her signature elegance and grace, even in this sooty setting. Her renditions of the children, the jovial sweeps, and the intricate rooftop world are filled with movement, character, and an enchanting beauty. The black-and-white drawings, with their fine lines and careful cross-hatching, perfectly capture the texture of soot, brick, and fantasy, making the world of Chimney Town feel both tangible and magical.

In summary, Chimney Town is a classic example of Australian children’s literature from its era. While the verse is pleasant and playful, the book is now primarily cherished as a showcase for Ida Rentoul Outhwaite’s exceptional illustrative talent, offering a unique and lesser-known chapter in her celebrated artistic career. It remains a sought-after collector’s item for enthusiasts of vintage illustration and children’s books.