Horace Bent at Bologna: Scheffler's wounded paw fails to dampen the Gruffalo bash

You think your life is bad? At least you’re not the poor unfortunate who had to parade around in a fur-lined Gruffalo outfit on Bologna day one as the blazing sunshine pushed temps past 26℃ outside, and to circa 40℃ inside the greenhouse that is Halls 25 and 26. (I know, publishing professionals stuck in grey and rainy Blighty, Bologna is a slog). Rumours that it was Stefan von Holtzbrinck himself in the costume⁠⁠—a rumour probably fed by the Gruffalo being a beanpole 6’6” rather than having its usually roly-poly outline—have yet to be confirmed.

The Gruffalo was roaming the halls as it was the 25th anniversary of Julia Donaldson’s and Axel Scheffler’s classic and the duo were on hand to ring in the silver jubilee. Although, not with four working hands: on his way to dinner the night before Scheffler stumbled, fell and injured his right hand⁠—his illustrating hand, that is⁠—and it was off to A&E with Macmillan kids boss Belinda Rasmussen as translator.

Scheffler should be back to scribbling in a couple of weeks, though the impressive bandage he was sporting must have put a chill in many of his international publishers’ hearts when they first saw it

Worrying that  the Italian health system might not be the most efficient⁠—and, I mean, how could it compare to the UK National Health Service after 14 years of unstinting support by successive Tory governments⁠—Rasmussen was keen to get the star illustrator seen to as quickly as possible. When the admitting doctor asked, in Italian, how bad the pain was on a scale of one to 10, the stoic Scheffer replied in English, “Three.” “Cinque,” Rasmussen immediately translated, staring the doctor square in the eye.

But all was well in the end, as it was only a dislocated finger and Scheffler should be back to scribbling in a couple of weeks, though the impressive bandage he was sporting must have put a chill in many of his international publishers’ hearts when they first saw it.

And it didn’t affect his turn as the owl in the multilingual performance (English, German, Italian, French and Scots) of the Gruffalo story later at the 25th anniversary bash. Donaldson, as usual, played the mouse, and I think Daniel Day-Lewis came out of retirement to be the title character, though that was another unconfirmed rumour. I shall admit to being slightly disappointed that it wasn’t performed in all 107 languages the Gruffalo is published into. Maybe it’s something that can be worked up for the 30th bash?

I knew it wasn’t von Holtzbrinck in the suit this time around as he was in the audience enjoying the show with the rest of us. And, as the applause still cascaded for Donaldson, Scheffler et al’s performance, he was moved to get up and say a few words. If you were thinking that might be akin to a random punter striding onto the Eras Tour stage to belt out a few karaoke numbers after Taylor Swift plays her last encore, you wouldn’t be far off. Read the room, Vonny H! But c.e.o.s are a different breed.

A different breed, indeed: von Holtzbrinck commendably saluted many of the international publishers in the audience as the success of The Gruffalo has had many parents but then, in an interesting pivot, added that "you might say it has taken an orgy to get here”. Which wasn’t awkward at all! Plus, I am not sure there is the firmest of grasps on the mammalian reproductive process.  

Then a quick dash across town to the Penguin Random House Children’s YA Ball in one of Bologna’s most gorgeous palazzos (and that’s saying something). Which, though beautiful, are not ideal acoustically, magnifying the hub-bub in the back. “Hey, pipe down,” I felt like yelling, “We’re talking about your classic enemies to friends to lovers then back to friends for a while followed by a period of mere disinterest to lovers will they/won’t they queer ice hockey-themed romances over here!” Still, it was maybe one of the glammest nights Bologna’s ever had, as the invite said “dress to impress”. And didn’t Tom Weldon take that to heart in his Cowboy Carter-inspired get-up? And like the song says, "This ain’t, Texas, it’s Bologna/so lay your cards (or world all-language rights) down, down, down, down."

Ciao, ragazzi, and see you next year!