Born in Speicher, Switzerland on August 31, 1886 Conrad Buff grew up on a farm. He emigrated to America in 1904 where he worked in various jobs and pursued his hobby of painting, until becoming recognised as a talented artist. He settled in the West, after falling in love with its landscape.
In 1922, he married Mary Jordan Marsh, with whom he later had two sons. Eventually they became a husband and wife writing team.
Between 1937 and 1968, they collaborated on both text and illustrations to produce 14 books, with Mary mainly writing the story and her husband illustrating. These stories reflect their backgrounds, featuring both the American West and Swtizerland. The theme of nature is also recurrent in their works.
Their books had a profound impact on children's literature in the middle of the 20th century; four times they were a runner-up for the Caldecott Medal or Newbery Medal, although only Apple and the Arrow was a Newbery Honor medalist.
Conrad died in 1975, surviving his wife by five years.
Did you find this review helpful?