Description

The Dead King – Illustrated by W. Heath Robinson

Kipling’s poem The Dead King was written as a eulogy to King Edward VII as a wise devoted monarch who had served his people well. King Edward VII died on May 6th, 1910 and this poem was first printed in The Times, the Morning Post, and other English newspapers on 18 May 1910.

Here the poem is decorated with the wonderful illustrations of W. Heath Robinson, an English cartoonist and illustrator. He was best known for drawings of ridiculously complicated machines – for achieving deceptively simple objectives. Such was (and is) his fame, that the term ‘Heath Robinson’ entered the English language during the First World War, as a description of any unnecessarily complex and implausible contrivance.

 

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With works such as The Dead King – Illustrated by W. Heath Robinson, 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.

We publish rare and vintage Golden Age illustrated books, in high-quality colour editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight both young and old.

On this website, you can find out about some of our best-selling authors, illustrators, and stories. We also have a full bookshop, an introduction to the Golden Age of Illustration, and a history of the fairy tale itself.

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