The Prince and the Porker

Peter Bently’s porcine take on the prince and the pauper story is jam-packed with jam tarts and hearty laughs. Pignatius is a greedy little pig who helps himself to ten fresh buns that are cooling outside the palace, but his search for more gets him into all sorts of trouble with the royal cook. Hiding from the staff he finds himself in the Prince’s chamber and while indulging in a spot of dressing up he is mistaken for the Prince himself. He loves ordering the guards around the yard and demanding every delicacy his stomach can think of, but when the real Prince shows up the porky pair must work out how this double act can benefit them both. The absurdly stylish David Roberts adds panache to this pig tale with fabulous fashions, décor to die-for and illustrated edibles that genuinely look good enough to eat. It’s a visual feast for the eyes and Andersen Press have pulled out the stops with a suitably lavish production; the gold frames and end-papers are a real treat. An afternoon-tea of a picture book; luxurious and ludicrous.