Laurent de Brunhoff, the visionary behind the cherished “Babar” series, has passed away at the age of 98. The author, who breathed new life into his father’s creation, transforming the tales of the elephant king into a beloved global phenomenon, died in his Key West, Florida home after a two-week hospice care, his widow Phyllis Rose confirmed.
Born in Paris and relocating to the U.S. in the 1980s, de Brunhoff was merely 12 when his father, Jean de Brunhoff, succumbed to tuberculosis. It was as an adult that Laurent tapped into his own artistic and narrative talents, producing numerous adventures set in Celesteville, including notable titles like “Babar at the Circus” and “Babar’s Yoga for Elephants.” Opting for a more concise textual approach than his father, Laurent’s illustrations nonetheless remained true to Jean’s subtle and tender style.
Ann S. Haskell, in a 1981 New York Times piece, remarked on the seamless fictional universe father and son had crafted, making it nearly impossible to discern where one’s contributions ended and the other’s began. The “Babar” series has enjoyed immense global success, inspiring a television series and animated films such as “Babar: The Movie” and “Babar: King of the Elephants,” captivating audiences from Charles de Gaulle to Maurice Sendak. Sendak once expressed his admiration, saying he would have showered the little elephant with love had they crossed paths.
De Brunhoff once identified closely with his creation, telling National Geographic in 2014, “Babar, that’s me,” and describing how the character had been an integral part of his life for many years.
However, the series has not been without its critics. Some parents and commentators have raised concerns over themes in the stories, including the portrayal of Babar’s mother’s death and allegations of racism and colonialism due to Babar’s Parisian education and its impact on his African kingdom. Ariel Dorfman, in 1983, criticized the books for perpetuating a colonial narrative. Yet, Adam Gopnik defended “Babar” in 2008, arguing that the series was a conscious commentary on French colonial and domestic imaginations rather than an endorsement of them.
Acknowledging some of the controversy, de Brunhoff expressed regret over certain portrayals in the series, notably in “Babar’s Picnic,” and requested its withdrawal from publication.
Laurent de Brunhoff, the eldest of Jean and Cecile de Brunhoff’s three sons, was inspired by a story his mother told, which led to the creation of Babar. Jean de Brunhoff brought the tale to life through his illustrations, transforming Cecile’s narrative into the first “Babar” book published in 1931. After Jean’s death, Laurent, initially a painter, decided to continue the Babar legacy, feeling a strong connection to the tradition his family had started.
Married twice, with his latter marriage to critic and biographer Phyllis Rose, who contributed to many recent “Babar” books, de Brunhoff leaves behind a rich legacy. Despite the controversies, his work has touched the hearts of many around the world, proving that Babar, the elephant king, will forever be a cherished figure in children’s literature.