Drawn from Memory
The first of Shepard's two autobiographical books and the clearest introduction to his own writing.
Author guide
Ernest H. Shepard Books in Order
Ernest Howard Shepard (1879–1976) was an English artist and book illustrator who became a regular Punch contributor and illustrated many classic and contemporary books. He is best known for creating the enduring visual identity of Winnie-the-Pooh and for his illustrations of The Wind in the Willows. Shepard also wrote and illustrated two children's novels, two autobiographical memoirs, and the drawing collection Fun and Fantasy.
children's fictionmemoirgraphic workscartooningillustration
Catalog record updated .
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Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Nonfiction (2)
- Drawn from Memory
memoir · 1957
- Drawn from Life
memoir · 1961
Children's books (2)
- Ben and Brock
children's-fiction · 1965
- Betsy and Joe
children's-fiction · 1966
Other (1)
- Fun and Fantasy: A Book of Drawings
graphic-work · 1927
Frequently asked questions about Ernest H. Shepard
Who was Ernest H. Shepard?
Ernest H. Shepard (1879–1976) was an English artist, illustrator, and cartoonist. He is best known for the drawings that shaped readers’ image of A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh characters.
Sources: penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)research.hrc.utexas.edu (opens in a new tab)
Was Ernest H. Shepard the author of Winnie-the-Pooh?
No. A. A. Milne wrote the Pooh books; Shepard was their illustrator, and his drawings became an inseparable part of the stories.
How was Ernest H. Shepard trained, and what career did he build?
He studied at Heatherley’s Art School and the Royal Academy School, where he won a Landseer Scholarship and the British Institution Prize. He later became a regular contributor and cartoonist for Punch.
Sources: lib.usm.edu (opens in a new tab)research.hrc.utexas.edu (opens in a new tab)
What influenced Ernest H. Shepard’s illustrations?
His landscape practice strongly influenced his best-known work: he used Ashdown Forest as the template for the Hundred Acre Wood and studied the Thames Valley meadows for The Wind in the Willows.
What awards did Ernest H. Shepard receive, and what is his legacy?
He received the University of Southern Mississippi Silver Medallion in 1970 and was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1972. His Pooh and The Wind in the Willows drawings remain defining examples of children’s-book illustration.
Sources: lib.usm.edu (opens in a new tab)sofo.org.uk (opens in a new tab)