Cinderella is one of the best known stories of all time. Originally penned by Charles Perrault, in his Histoires ou Contes du Temps Passé, it was an instant success. Perrault reported that he was told the story by some anonymous folk-story-tellers, and added extra details (such as the Fairy God-Mother, the much loved pumpkin carriage, anthropomorphic animal servants and the little glass slippers). Perrault (1628 – 1703) was among the first writers to bring magical children’s stories into the literary mainstream, proving to his original seventeenth century readers that such works were important, enjoyable, as well as thought-provoking. They remain as popular today, as they were then. This ‘Illustrated Cinderella’ is accompanied throughout by a series of dazzling colour and black and white illustrations – by a master of the craft; Arthur Rackham. 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 Perrault’s enchanting narrative. 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.
