Background
Harry Harrison was born in England, but because his father was in the Air Force, he travelled, spending time in Libya and Singapore as well as Britain.
Harry Harrison was born in England, but because his father was in the Air Force, he travelled, spending time in Libya and Singapore as well as Britain.
He is best known as the principal political cartoonist for the South China Morning Post (SCMP). However he also illustrates children"s books and provides satirical cartoons to many journals in the South China area. He left school at 16 and took up a junior position in a supermarket, moving through a variety of careers and finally into illustration.
In 1994 he moved from England to Hong Kong where he now lives on the Lamma Island.
Harry plays part-time in a band called the Yung Shue Wan Curs - a play on words relating to the village, Yung Shue Wan, near which he lives. Harry Harrison is probably best known for his daily cartons in the SCMP which have appeared since 2001.
He is the principal cartoonist for the paper, his work appearing six days a week. Harry collaborates with Sarah Brennan on children"s books
His most prominent works include a series on Chinese zodiac animals such as Oswald Ox, Run Run Rat and Temujin the Tiger.
He is also the illustrator of the "Dirty Story" series. Harry is commonly confused with the science fiction author of the same name. The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom printed a cartoon by Harry Harrison 16 February 2008 edition, along with the caption, "Harry Harrison is a comics artist, writer and editor specialising in science fiction.
His book Make Room! Make Room! was adapted for the cult film Soylent Green." A correction and clarification was published three days later.
Carl Giles and Ronald Searle are quoted as significant role models. In particular Ronald Searle has been a major influence on him because of the "darkness" associated with his work.
Harry attributes this dark edge to Searle"s near-death experiences as a Prisoner Of War in the Second World War.