The Now-A-Days Fairy Book - Illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith

Book excerpt: Edited by Anna Alice Chapin (1880 – 1920), the Now A Days Fairy Book contains such classic stories as: the Brothers Grimm’s ‘Snow White’ and ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, Charles Perrault’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Sleeping Beauty’, alongside Mme D’Aulnoy’s ‘The Three Bears’ and other less well-known tales such as ‘The Mist Island’ and ‘Fairy Talk.’ All of these wonderful tales are accompanied by colour illustrations by Jessie Willcox Smith, and appear in their original translations. Jessie Willcox Smith (1863 – 1935) was one of the most prominent female illustrators in the United States during the Golden Age of American Illustration. She was also a prolific contributor to literary novels and magazines during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Most notable was her ongoing relationship with Good Housekeeping, including the long-running ‘Mother Goose’ series. Smith’s style changed drastically through her life. In the beginning of her career she used dark lined borders to delineate brightly coloured objects, and in later works she masterfully softened lines and colours – until they almost disappeared. Presented alongside the text of ‘The ‘Now A Days Fairy Book’, her illustrations further refine and elucidate Chapin’s thoughtfully edited collection. 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.