An interview with illustrator Marie Muravski about illustrating the Audrey guided audiobook of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
1. Why did you want to illustrate A Christmas Carol for Audrey?
Marie: I would call such work a Christmas gift for me. I simply dove into the story and it brought me lots of deep thoughts and the Christmas mood, of course. While drawing, I often listen to audiobooks myself, so the concept of Audrey is very close to my heart. In addition, I am pleased to know that behind the idea there are real, involved people who care about their business a lot and appreciate the work of illustrators.
2. Do you recommend the book? If so, why?
Marie: I have read and watched adaptations of A Christmas Carol many times, but when the details are forgotten, I remember it as just a ghost story. I get all the more pleasure when I return to this book at the beginning of December. The rhythm itself brings an abyss of pleasure, I feel like a friend of Charles Dickens, who relishes the story with me. Surprisingly, a dark ghost story relieves me of anxiety every time, makes me appreciate what I already have, remember to be generous and just feel good. Do I recommend the book? Of course! Who wouldn’t?
3. Can you give us an idea of your process for creating the illustrations?
Marie: I had to fit the whole story into three illustrations. To fit the whole story means to show the most important things, to capture the essence and atmosphere of the book. Of course, the life of Scrooge was necessary to show, this contrast of his gloomy, petty world and the bright, lively and diverse environment from which he fences himself off. Then I wanted to convey the feeling of emptiness and hopelessness that Scrooge goes through in his nightly wanderings. Here is a big black silhouette of death and a small man, alone in the middle of a snowy desert, looking at his grave. It was terrifying to work on this illustration, to be honest. And, although the story may seem naive, I perfectly understand why Scrooge was that glad to return to the familiar world. This is what I decided to depict in the third illustration, light and airy world.
Download the whole unabridged audiobook of A Christmas Carol, read by Kyle Munley and with a guide by Nat Reeve and guests, and Marie's illustrations, exclusively on the Audrey app.
Marie was born and grew up in a small Siberian town. As a book illustrator, she collaborates with publishing houses and self-publishers all over the world.
Together with her husband, they founded a family studio called Voroh which focuses on publishing interactive novels. She is currently based in Scotland on the UK's Global Talent Visa.