The King of the Golden River - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

‘The King of the Golden River, or, The Black Brothers: A Legend of Stiria’ is a children’s story, penned by John Ruskin. Ruskin (1819 – 1900) was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, as well as an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist and social thinker. This text was originally written in 1841, for the twelve-year-old Effie Gray, whom Ruskin later married. It is a fairy tale that illustrates the triumph of love, kindness, and goodness over evil – and on its publication in 1851, became an early Victorian classic.

It is also accompanied by a series of dazzling colour illustrations by Arthur Rackham (1867-1939). 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 and elucidate Ruskin’s masterful storytelling.

Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s literature – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration. 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.