NARNIA NOTES: With all the hype of the newly released movie “The
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” we are
a little surprised we haven’t received a call on a local connection
to the book.

Roger Hane, who was born in Bradford and later became an
illustrator in New York City, illustrated the cover of the entire
“Chronicles of Narnia” set published by Collier-Macmillan in
1970.

The collection includes seven titles by C.S. Lewis – “The
Magician’s Nephew”; “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”; “The
Horse and His Boy”; “Prince Caspian”; “The Voyage of the Dawn
Treader”; “The Silver Chair,” and The Last Battle.”

People may remember the tragic story of Roger’s life.

Hane, who was known for his surrealism/realism style, was born
in Bradford in 1939. He worked for Zippo Manufacturing Co., then
became an illustrator in Philadelphia and eventually moved to New
York.

His works were published in such magazines as “Ladies Home
Journal,” “Life,” “Esquire” and “Sports Illustrated.”

In 1974, Roger seemed to have the illustrating world wrapped
around his finger. In June of that year, he had just been told that
he would receive the New York Artist Guild’s “Artist of the
Year.”

Also, one of his paintings was on the cover of “New York
Magazine.”

His fortune, however, was short-lived. On June 13, while
bicycling in Central Park, a gang of teen-agers stole his bike and
beat him until he was unconscious.

He died four days later at the age of 35.

In recent years, his name has resurfaced in the news as the
Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center hosted a show of
Roger’s art in 2004.

Earlier this year, his friend Robert Hunsicker, gave a talk at
the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford about Roger. He is also in
the midst of publishing a book about Hane’s life.

We must caution those who plan to go into a bookstore and see
Hane’s work. Since the movie has come out, other covers have been
published. You may have to do some searching to find the work of
Bradford’s own illustrator.