Description

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

Arthur Rackham’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is one of his finest, and most sought after works of illustration. Originally published in 1908, his Shakespearean fairies are some of his best-known work, with his ‘gnarled trees and droves of fairies, representing the visual reality of the Dream for thousands of readers… here, he excelled especially in landscape, and in reconciling dream and reality, giving himself to the luxury of rich detail with a rare generosity.’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy play – one of Shakespeare’s lighter works, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1597. Both in text, and on stage, it is one of Shakespeare’s most popular narratives, and remains widely performed across the world.

Arthur Rackham (1867-1939), was 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. Presented alongside the text, his illustrations further refine this classic work.

 

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With works such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 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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