Margret Rey

Poster

Biography

Margret Elizabeth Rey (May 10, 1906 – December 21, 1996), born Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein, was (with her husband H. A. Rey), the co-author and illustrator of children's books, the most famous of which are the Curious George series. Margarete Waldstein was born in Hamburg in 1906; her father was a member of the Reichstag. She studied art at Bauhaus in Dessau, Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, and the University of Munich, and afterwards worked in advertising. In 1935, she left Germany for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to escape Nazism. While there, she met her future husband Hans (who was a salesman and also from Hamburg). They married in 1935 and moved to Paris, France, in 1936. [2] While in Paris, Hans's animal drawings came to the attention of French publisher, who commissioned him to write a children's book. The result, Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys, is little remembered today, but one of its characters, an adorably impish monkey named Curious George, was such a success that the couple considered writing a book just about him. Their work was interrupted with the outbreak of World War II. As Jews, the Reys decided to flee Paris before the Nazis seized the city. Hans built two bicycles, and they fled Paris just a few hours before it fell. Among the meager possessions they brought with them was the illustrated manuscript of Curious George. The Reys' odyssey brought them to the Spanish border, where they bought train tickets to Lisbon. From there they returned to Brazil, where they had met five years earlier, but this time they continued to New York, New York, USA. The books were published by Houghton Mifflin in 1941, though certain changes had to be introduced because of the technology of the time. Hans and Margret originally planned to use watercolors to illustrate the books, but since they were responsible for the color separation, he changed these to the cartoon-like images that continue to feature in each of the books. (A collector's edition with the original watercolors was released in 1998.)[3] Curious George was an instant success, and the Reys were commissioned to write more adventures of the mischievous monkey and his friend, the Man with the Yellow Hat. They wrote seven stories in all, with Hans mainly doing the illustrations and Margret working mostly on the stories, though they both admitted to sharing the work and cooperating fully in every stage of development. At first, however, Margret's name was left off the cover, ostensibly because there was a glut of women already writing children's fiction. In later editions, this was corrected, and Margret now receives full credit for her role in developing the stories. Margret and her husband moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1963, in a house close to Harvard Square. Following her husband's death in 1977, Margret continued writing, and in 1979, became a Professor of Creative Writing at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Starting in 1980, she also began to collaborate with Alan Shalleck on a series of short films featuring Curious George and more than two dozen additional books. Description above from the Wikipedia article Margret Rey, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Cine5 Biography

Margret Rey was born on May 10, 1906, in Hamburg and is recognized as a children's book author and illustrator. Her real name was Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein, and she was the co-author and illustrator of many children's books alongside H. A. Rey. She gained worldwide fame, particularly with the "Curious George" series.

The turning point in her career began in 1935 when she emigrated to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to escape Nazism. There, she met her future husband Hans and married him in 1935. The couple moved to Paris in 1936 to continue their artistic careers. In Paris, Hans's animal drawings caught the attention of a French publisher, leading them to start writing children's books. The book titled "Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys," though forgotten, featured the Curious George character, which became a significant success.

Among Margret Rey's most important works is the globally recognized "Curious George" series. The adorable monkey character in this series has become quite popular among children and has been adapted into various forms (books, animation, film). Margret Rey's creativity has made significant contributions to children's literature, and these works have nurtured children's imaginations for generations.

Margret Rey won many awards throughout her career and is remembered for her contributions to children's literature. She passed away on December 21, 1996, but her works continue to be celebrated. Today, Margret Rey's works still offer children a fun and educational reading experience. The answer to the question of who Margret Rey is is shaped not only by her works but also by her unique creativity that inspires children. Margret Rey's films and books have left a lasting mark in the world of literature.

Interesting Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Margret Rey?

Margret Rey is a famous author and children's book writer. She is best known for the 'Curious George' series.

How old was Margret Rey?

120 years old, born in 1906.

What is Margret Rey's most famous film?

Margret Rey's most famous film is the animated film featuring the character 'Curious George.' This film is quite popular among children.

Where was Margret Rey from?

Margret Rey was born in Hamburg, Germany. She later emigrated to the United States.

In which series did Margret Rey act?

Although Margret Rey is primarily known for her writing career, she also had an influence in the animated series featuring the character 'Curious George.' This series tells the adventures of the character she created.

Personal Facts

Known For
creators
Gender
Female
Known Credits
3
Birth Date
1906-05-10 00:00:00
Death Date
1996-12-21 00:00:00

Known For

Credits