Who Killed Cock Robin?  


An old story re-told in modern colour photography by Paul Henning.
Published by Methuen & Co Ltd., London.  1945.


The forward reads:  "The origin of COCK ROBIN is very difficult to trace, in fact the only difinitive source found is an entry in "A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles," which say that the poem "Who Killed Cock Robin?" appeared for the first time about A.D. 1800 in "Nursery Chap-Book." *

Commander R. T. Gould, of the Brains Trust, when approached on the subject replied: "So far as I know - but that isn't very far - there are two principal views about the Cock Robin rhyme.  One school traces it to the intrigues which brought about the fall of Sir Robert Walpole - the other, working on 'GoldenBough' lines, derives it from the Norse legend of Balder.  Take your choice."

In this book the modern art of colour photography is used to represent for children this delightful story enacted by real, though stuffed, birds in specially built scenery."

Credits are as follows:  "Henry Gerrard has lent me the birds and some of the scenery and I would also like to acknowledge his unstinted help and advice.  PAUL HENNING"

* The earliest known published collection of nursery rhymes was Tommy Thumb's (Pretty) Song Book, 2 vol. (London, 1744).  It included "Little Tom Tucker," "Sing a Song of Sixpence," and "Who Killed Cock Robin?" This would closely coincide with Sir Robert Walpole's resignation in 1742.