Upon entering CA 121, which houses the bulk of the Ray Bradbury Center’s holdings, visitors are greeted by stacks of hundreds of editions of Bradbury’s works published in over 40 languages and a substantial collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy literary anthologies — many of which contain Bradbury stories. Tucked away on one of those shelves is an item that’s easy to overlook — a 1921 Rand McNally oversized illustrated collection of traditional fairy tales, titled Once Upon a Time. 

Once Upon a Time represents one the first momentous pieces of Ray Bradbury’s early literary life. Unfortunately, the book pictured below is not Ray’s personal copy of the text. Dr. Jonathan Eller, recognizing that the text is essential for our collection as both an important literary work and artifact, procured a copy for our reference library some years ago. 

Why is this work significant? It is one of the first books that Ray ever owned — a gift from his beloved Aunt Neva, Christmas 1925. Neva fostered Bradbury’s love for the written word. She read to her nephew frequently, and this gift offered a preschool-aged Bradbury a glimpse into the timeless stories of the European fairy tale tradition. The illustrations and stories provided Bradbury powerful visual metaphors that had a lasting impact. According to Dr. Eller, Bradbury treasured this illustrated volume for the rest of his life. He kept it within arm’s reach of where he worked in his den at his Los Angeles residence. In an unpublished chapter of Becoming Ray Bradbury, Eller writes

The impact on the young [Bradbury] was immediate and enduring—more than eighty years later Bradbury’s wonderment was undiminished: “The first story in this book of fairy tales, ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ affected me most. The illustrations are so beautiful. Look at that wonderful beast!” 

Look indeed! Clearly, these metaphor-rich tales and illustrations played a critical role in the way Bradbury approached learning, discovery, and his own unique brand of storytelling.

By Center Director, Dr. Jason Aukerman

“Every once in awhile

I dream that Time is over

And there is no more Time, and if I

wait any longer

I won’t be here to say nor you to hear.

So while there’s time, let me say it

again:

Thanks for all the days, months, clocks,

lamps, chairs, and years.. […]

Knowing my first love with you.”

– Ray Bradbury, selected excerpt from “Christmas Greetings 2004 ‘Maggie Remembered’”

Before Marguerite “Maggie” Bradbury passed away, she and Ray sent annual Christmas greetings to friends and family, often poems. In 2004, the year after her death, Ray remembered Maggie in yet another Christmas poem memorializing late nights spent together feeding their four daughters and walks to Ocean Park on foggy nights.

Maggie first met Ray while working at Fowler’s Bookstore in 1946, where she was instructed to keep an eye on him because of his suspicious appearance in a large overcoat. Ray shared with Maggie that he was a writer and the two were engaged two months later, their anniversary inscribed inside a copy of Cyril Connolly’s The Unquiet Grave. 

Maggie was an even more ravenous reader than Ray and many of their dates included bookstore visits. She read fast and remembered everything. Maggie loved history and the Classics, and they often exchanged books as gifts with Maggie introducing Ray to poets and European literature. 

Maggie managed their household of six, and as the only one with a driver’s license would sometimes rescue Ray and his bicycle from work. Maggie read and critiqued Ray’s typescripts and he deeply valued her thoughts. Maggie’s favorite escape, throughout their hectic life of international travel and fame, remained curling up with a good book.