I once owned a copy of Eloise in Moscow, but in my naive and trusting youth I lent it to someone (MMF, if you’re out there, I haven’t forgotten). A recent post in calmgrove about Emil And The Detectives reminded me of Eloise, and I found it in the library. Sadly, it’s not in the lovely original blue and gold edition, but the girl herself is just as much fun as she travels Moscow in the Rolls her grandmother has sent in by rail for her comfort (It is the only sports car I will drive in a Russian blizzard), puts up with the permanent company of Zhenka the interpreter (Is not possible to see here reconstruction. Is blizzard), goes spying in the night (there were quite a few briefcases in Moscow, but they didn’t have anything interesting in them), plays her bongos in the underground (it was rawther effective), visits the Bolshoi (There is rawther a lot of ballet in Moscow) and eats rawther a lot of black caviar from the Caspian Sea. She may be only six years old, but after all her father is a diplomat, she takes the high life in her stride, and she doesn’t miss much (this spy who had been following us with his hat on, for lords sake).
Kay Thompson wrote four Eloise books in the 1950’s and was a singer and voice coach, notably to Judy Garland and other MGM musical stars. The joyous illustrations are by Hilary Knight.
Gert Loveday's Fun with Books 
Eloise!! I have a “first printing” of “Eloise in Moscow,” and it looks exactly like this one above. I have a “third printing” of “Eloise in Paris;” the colors there are pink and blue. I had to get them out (along with the original “Eloise” and visit her again. Thank you!
The cover of this one is black and white, like a newspaper front page. It was issued to mark the 50th anniversary, I think. Some quotes on the back from Eloise fans – Groucho Marx: “I admire Eloise enormously – and am very happy that I am not her father.”
Fascinating. The cover of the first edition is also black and white, with “Eloise” in red. The quotes on the back are from Noel Coward,J.P. Marquand,and Cleveland Armory. I the middle of the book is a double page full color foldout of the Kremlin. Just had dinner with a friend who had spent some time mountain climbing, with a few days in Moscow. He also did not like the food (although I don’t think that he ate as much caviar), and marveled at the Russian attitude of “You will do what we tell you.” Such a contrast to “Eloise in Paris,” which is more comfortable and a lot more fun.
Just the same as this one, then. Mine was blue and gold, as I said, and I must say I prefer it.
I wanted to be Eloise, living in a hotel and exploring the place on her own. I have gotten to do that a couple of times, and it’s just as much fun as I thought (although the room service food never quite met Eloise’s standards).
I did so love Eloise, her world was so far from working class Footscray and St Augustines Primary. Yearned for her chic coat for years and sad to say I cannot recollect reading them to my kids. I do so hope I did.
She certainly has got attitude.
How lovely to be reminded of this book, a favourite from my younger days. I’m rather tempted to acquire another copy…
And introduce another generation to it – though I wonder how it would go down with kids today.
From Other Gert, My daughter loved Eloise, we had all the books. Perhaps this has influenced her approach to life!
Well, I’m terrifically (???) grateful for this preview and can absolutely understand why you rave about the books. Forgive me, I’m salivating …
The pictures look familiar but I don’t think I read it as a child. I grew up with Maggie Muggins and our children had Pippi Longstocking.
Leslie
Pippi Longstocking and Eloise might have had fun together. But I don’t recall that Eloise ever did anything with other kids. She was a 6-year-old in a world of adults, along with Skipperdee the turtle and Weenie the little dog.
I don’t know Maggie Muggins, but I agree with Teri that Eloise had no time for other children. She had a very expansive world view!
Maybe that’s why I liked Eloise so much — I didn’t always get on with other kids, but did very well with adults at an early age (later on, not so much). And who wouldn’t want to live in the Plaza??
And have Tooooorkeeeeeesh cawfyeh every day.
Yes — we went to the Palm Court for lunch 20-some years ago, and my husband still recalls the latte there (served by a Russian waiter) as the best he has ever had.
Just wait till you hit Melbourne.
OK – 2018. I’m putting it on the calendar.
This whole discussion has gotten me looking at our children’s books. We have a first edition Madeline, it turns out, not in great condition. Fun to have it. Our kids won’t want much of what we have, but they will like the books.
Have a look at The Magic Puddin’ on Google, and also Blinky Bill.
They sounds like great fun, especially the Magic Puddin’. Required reading to prepare for an Australia trip?
Certainly. Then you can go to the NSW State Library in Sydney and see the original illustrations for The Magic Puddin.
Sounds like part of a plan. Along with Nar Nar Goon, coffee, and the beaches.
Lamington National Park if you’re going to take in Queensland.
Looks as if it’s between Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef. Our tentative plan was a week in Melbourne, a week in Sydney, and a week at the Great Barrier Reef and things in that neighborhood. But that’s based on not very much knowledge of the country.
Sounds like a good plan. You have plenty of time to do your homework. Do see the Barrier Reef while it’s still there.