Twilight Land

by Howard Pyle, N.D. Wilson (Introduction)

It is evening at the Inn of the Sign of Mother Goose. In a dark, smoky room, the world’s most famous storytellers gather to weave tales of mystery and enchantment. In this collection of 16 haunting fairy tales, Howard Pyle intertwines each story with the next, crafting a unified world filled with princes and demons, genies and sorceresses, and all the characters that pitch in to wage the age-old battle between good and evil. This Looking Glass Library edition includes an introduction by N. D. Wilson and Pyle’s intricate line illustrations from the original 1894 publication.

Genres: Fantasy, Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, Childrens, Fairy Tales, Adventure

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1894

About the author

Howard Pyle was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people.

During 1894 he began teaching illustration at the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry (now Drexel University), and after 1900 he founded his own school of art and illustration named the Howard Pyle School of Illustration Art. The term Brandywine School was later applied to the illustration artists and Wyeth family artists of the Brandywine region by Pitz. Some of his more famous students were N. C. Wyeth, Frank Schoonover, Elenore Abbott, Ethel Franklin Betts, Anna Whelan Betts, Harvey Dunn, Clyde O. DeLand, Philip R. Goodwin, Violet Oakley, Ellen Bernard Thompson Pyle, Olive Rush, Allen Tupper True, and Jessie Willcox Smith.

His 1883 classic publication The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood remains in print, and his other books, frequently with medieval European settings, include a four-volume set on King Arthur. He is also well known for his illustrations of pirates, and is credited with creating the now stereotypical modern image of pirate dress. He published an original novel, Otto of the Silver Hand, in 1888. He also illustrated historical and adventure stories for periodicals such as Harper's Weekly and St. Nicholas Magazine. His novel Men of Iron was made into a movie in 1954, The Black Shield of Falworth.

Pyle travelled to Florence, Italy to study mural painting during 1910, and died there in 1911 from a kidney infection (Bright's Disease).

His sister Katharine Pyle was also a writer and illustrator. Their mother was the children's author and translator M.C. Pyle.

Reviews

[Brennan Wieland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written towards the end of the 1800's, my book had checkouts from the 1950's. I read "Wisdom's Wages and Folly's Pay". The story tells of a young foolish man and a wizard who cross paths. Shortly after meeting, the wizard has enough of the man's stupidity and leaves the man. But, he leaves the man with a word of advice, "Think well, Think well! - before you do what you are about to do, think well!" The man then uses this phrase to attain many riches but using this phrase in several situations. The story is a little difficult to explain, but it's worth reading on your own. Since it was written so long ago, it has a different feel to it, but you catch on quickly.

[Lara Lleverino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book that seemed to be a mash up of The Wonder Tales, The Tanglewood Tales and Andrew Lang's fairy tales.

[Sharkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I've been able to go back to over and over again. At this point, I think I've read it enough times to be able to recall most of the stories off the top of my mind (maybe not word for word, but pretty close).
Who cares if this book was made for a younger audience? I'm almost a legal adult and have loved it ever since I was 12. Definitely a necessary addition to anyone's bookshelf!

[Gwendolin Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not one of my favorite Howard Pyle books so far. I liked the idea of classic storybook characters gathering in a tavern to tell their own stories, but not as much in execution. A lot of the stories felt a bit repetitive. It also almost seemed like his version of the Arabian Nights. I did, however, really like the last story The Salt of Life. And as always, I am enchanted by Pyle's beautiful illustrations.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my May 2016 read for the Classics Club. These stories had some surprising depth to them and I think Ellie and Marko will enjoying hearing them eventually.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this might have been my favorite of the books in the Howard Pyle collection I had. Interesting and engaging collection of tales.

[Maya Joelle]

I literally only read this bc N.D. Wilson wrote the intro XD Don't remember it very well, but I always enjoy good fairytale stories.

[Imogen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really, really cute! The stories were fun and I thought it was a really fun!

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a magical book, there's stories in here that you couldn't have even imagined. I couldn't put it down, but maybe that's because I'm a huge nerd for learning about how other cultures think and historical culture is remarkably different than our own.

It's very different from what you expect from your typical Mother Goose's Fairy Tales, or even Grimm's because these stories center very much on themes of wisdom, folly, and fate, which is exactly why I loved it so much.

Some of the fairy tales seem meaningless or redundant, but I think reading this book will definitely give you a meaningful perspective on other modes of thinking if you pay attention. I don't want to tell you more about my personal analysis of it so that I don't bias you, but just know that the myths and archetypes here are very symbolic and applicable as to how you can be wise, overcome temptation, and deal with fate in your own life.

Get it on Project Gutenburg, if you have a kindle.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these old tales that hearken back to and sound very much like even OLDER tales. And, though to many it may not matter (for me, especially when dealing with "fairy tales," it does), the illustrations are completely gorgeous and there aren't an overwhelming number of them. The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is that as a compilation, the stories (especially the first half-dozen or so) do get very redundant. I feel like if they'd been mixed in a different order, this would have been less of an issue. But, I like the connecting storyline and the way that each tale almost seems to remind the next teller of their own tale. I'd love to seek out more of Pyle's books, now!

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed N.D. Wilson's introduction to this book of classic fairy tales. The tales start to sound very similar if you read it straight through like I did! I can recommend it for the Logos Library.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally finished this one, which should have taken me a week to read. It was very much like The Arabian Nights and I am, nearly, certain that it had to influence Jack Vance. Now I can read some more Moorcock.

[Xenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Twiligt land is a really good if you want to find out what is it about read it!!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it.

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining. Many with similar themes and elements.

[Jeremy]

Wilson says more here.