The Arthur Rackham Fairy Book

by Arthur Rackham

Twenty-two of the best-known fairy tales from the Arabian Nights, Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, and other sources.

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Art, Picture Books, Classics, Fiction, Magic

271 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1933

About the author

Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) was a British illustrator and translator of books in the English and Spanish languages.

He was born in London as one of 12 children. At the age of 18, he worked as a clerk at the Westminster Fire Office and began studying part-time at the Lambeth School of Art.

In 1892, he quit his job and started working for The Westminster Budget as a reporter and illustrator. His first book illustrations were published in 1893 in To the Other Side by Thomas Rhodes, but his first serious commission was in 1894 for The Dolly Dialogues, the collected sketches of Anthony Hope, who later went on to write The Prisoner of Zenda. Book illustrating then became Rackham's career for the rest of his life.

In 1903, he married Edyth Starkie, with whom he had one daughter, Barbara, in 1908. Rackham won a gold medal at the Milan International Exhibition in 1906 and another one at the Barcelona International Exposition in 1912. His works were included in numerous exhibitions, including one at the Louvre in Paris in 1914. Arthur Rackham died 1939 of cancer in his home in Limpsfield, Surrey.

-from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do believe there were one or two fairy tales that I hadn't read before, (or perhaps it's just been a long time since I've heard them) but the main reason I borrowed this collection of fairy tales was to admire Arthur Rackham's illustrations, and his coloured illustrations in particular did not disappoint.

[Matthias · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good number from Perrault, Hans Christian Anderson, and selections from The Arabian Nights. There are a couple other sources. I'd read a number of these before, but not with the benefit of Rackam's engrossing illustrations. He draws really big feet, I noticed. I enjoyed this collection.

[Geraldine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is as good as it gets! The illustrations by Rackham are enchanting, and so are the stories by Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Perrault, the Arabian Knights.

[K.S. Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For this book I have gone to those old favorites of the nursery that have such a hold on our affections that their incidents, characters, and even phrases have become part of our everyday thoughts and expression, and helped to shape our lives." - Illustrator's Preface to "The Arthur Rackham Fairy Book"

I found this book on one of my many trips to my favorite second hand bookshop. Having been a fan of Arthur Rackham since I was a young girl and of Fairytales since I was even younger, I felt as though I had stumbled upon a holy grail of sorts. It's a beautiful addition to my bookshelf and I am honored that it found it's way to me.

[Mandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine. I mostly picked this up in hopes of enjoying the illustrations, but the line drawings weren't my favorite. I didn't realize Rackham used so many different illustration styles!

The tales were standard. I liked seeing a somewhat different ending on Sleeping Beauty, and the inclusion of Rip Van Winkle was cool.

I did really like the illustrator's preface!

[Helen Pugsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this from a coffee shop (Night Heron) and finally thumbed through it. I thought this would be about Rackham and his life, his art. But it was even better! It was the fairy tales with his art!! In that classic language. Dang!!! I finally have a copy of the OG Beauty and the Beast.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought there would be more emphasis on his artistic works. As is, its a pretty good basic intro to all the classic fairy tales.

[Alison Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming illustrations; great stories.

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a random selection of fairy tales from different sources, but well told and I love Arthur Rackham's illustrations.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've owned this book nearly since I was born. When I got married, I scrounged through boxes in my parents' garage to salvage it from donation, because I have such fond meories of it from my childhood. It's a lovely book of 23 classic (and not-so) fairy tales, illustrated beautifully both in color and in black and white.

[Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear cats and kittens, this book made me unspeakably happy.