a. l. haydon

The Stories of King Arthur are retold here, by A. L. Haydon (1872 – 1910), and presented alongside the illustrations of Arthur Rackham. King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late fifth and early-sixth centuries, whose story is manly composed from ancient folklore and literary invention. This volume tells of his legendary adventures, and contains chapters on ‘King Arthur’s Birth’, ‘King Arthur’s Marriage’, ‘Sir Galahad and the Quest for the Holy Grail’, ‘The Jest of Sir Dagonet’, ‘The Sword of Excalibur’, and many more thrilling knights, maidens, and quests. The book further contains a series of dazzling colour and black-and-white illustrations – by a master of the craft; Arthur Rackham (1867 – 1939). One of the most celebrated painters of the British Golden Age of Illustration (which encompassed the years from 1850 until the start of the First World War), Rackham’s artistry is quite simply, unparalleled. Throughout his career, he developed a unique style, combining haunting humour with dream-like romance. Appearing alongside the text, his illustrations further refine and elucidate A. L. Haydon’s enchanting storytelling. Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s literature – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration from the 1880s to the 1930s. Our collection showcases classic fairy tales, children’s stories, and the work of some of the most celebrated artists, illustrators and authors.