Arthur Rackham is widely regarded as one of the leading illustrators from the golden age of British book illustration, which encompassed the years 1890 until the end of World War I. The acclaim for the artist's wealth of color illustrations has overshadowed the merit of his first-rate ink work, a genre richly deserving of individual attention. This original volume, the first available collection of Rackham's line art, features images from throughout his career, including illustrations for ...

Puck of Pook’s Hill is one of the lesser known tales of Rudyard Kipling (1865 – 1935); the famed author of ‘The Jungle Book’. It is a fantasy novel, containing a series of short stories set in different periods of English history. The stories are all narrated to two children living near Burwash (East Sussex) – by people magically plucked out of history by the elf Puck, or told by Puck himself. The genres of particular stories range from authentic historical novella (A Centurion of the Thir...

In celebration of Arthur Rackham’s 150th birthday, this volume features 150 of the Golden Age Illustrator’s most beautiful works.This gorgeous collection showcases a breadth of enchanting images from pioneering illustrator, Arthur Rackham. Featuring artwork from treasured classics such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and Undine, as well as his wondrous 1905 edition of Rip Van Winkle, and his final publication, ...

The longer stories in this book are called Fairy Stories, because that is the name by which such tales are always known to children; and yet only a very few contain any direct reference to fairies. The most of them have to do with talking animals and with strange incidents and transformations such as have always delighted the childish fancy. They have been drawn from a variety of sources; and liberty has been taken to make such changes in the narratives as seemed most necessary to adapt th...

The clever fox made friends with the crane.The clever fox once had a notion to treat the crane to dinner and went to invite him to her house."Come godfather! Come dear! How I'll entertain you!"The crain went to the dinner party.The clever fox had cooked farina cereal and spread it over a plate.She served it and urged."Eat, my friend-godfather, I cooked it myself. "

Demonstrating the strength of love over evil, this fantasy fable is a classic children’s story and has been brought to life by Arthur Rackham’s illustrations.First written in 1841, John Ruskin penned this classic Victorian tale for young Effie Gray. The thrilling adventure story is a triumph of English literature. An epic saga with many twists and turns, The King of the Golden River offers explanations for natural parts of life and encourages children to b...

Snowdrop and Other Tales was originally published in 1909, and contains a collection of classic fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm – all beautifully illustrated by Arthur Rackham. The stories include: ‘Briar Rose, ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’, ‘Clever Hans’, ‘The Goosegirl’, ‘The Seven Ravens’, ‘Ashputtel’, ‘Clever Grethel’, and many more. The Brothers Grimm are perhaps the best known folklorists of all time. Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859), were German academics, linguists...

“I will live in the past, the present, and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me.”A Christmas Carol is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in 1843. The book narrates the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an aged miser who is haunted by the ghost of his former associate partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After meeting them, Scrooge is turned into a kinder, milder person.

«A Midsummer Night’s Dream» is a comedy play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and Hippolyta. These include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors (mechanicals), who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. The play is one of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the st...

The Vicar of Wakefield, subtitled, ‘A Tale Supposed to be written by Himself’ – is a novel by Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith (1728 – 1774). It was one of the most popular and widely read eighteenth century novels, displaying the author’s belief in the innate goodness of human beings. ‘The Vicar of Wakefield’ can also be read however, as a satire on the sentimental novel and its values, as the vicar’s values are apparently not compatible with the real ‘sinful’ world. Whichever interpretation...

James Stephens’ collection of Irish Fairy Tales is presented in this beautiful volume alongside gorgeous illustrations by Arthur Rackham.James Stephens was an Irish novelist and poet, and his retellings of Irish myths and fairy tales combine humour and lyricism, making them light and fun reads. This edition of Irish Fairy Tales features a series of dazzling colour and black-and-white illustrations from the masterful Golden Age artist Arthur Rackha...

A ghost turns up at Ebenezer Scrooge's home one Christmas Eve. It is Jacob Marley, his business partner, who has been dead for seven years. He is dragging heavy chains, and is obviously full of great sorrow and unbearable pain.While Scrooge is still trying to decide whether the apparition is real or a piece of his imagination, Marley's ghost tells him something that might change his life forever:'You will be haunted by three spirits. Without their visits, you cannot hope to...