“She noticed that the girls and boys in the books were not altogether like the girls and boys who played with her in the Square and came to tea with her. The children in the books were wonderfully brave and clever; and when they were having their magnificent adventures they always did exactly the right thing at the right moment.”

FAIRIES I HAVE MET
Mrs. Rodolph Stawell
London; New York: John Lane, 1907?
First edition
PZ8 S488 Fa 1907

Mrs. Stawell wrote these tales for a little girl named Penelope. This book is illustrated with eight color plates by Edmund Dulac (1882-1953), one of the premier illustrators of the golden age of children’s book. Born in Toulouse, Dulac studied art in France. He became a British citizen in 1912. He is, perhaps, best known for his illustrations for Fairies. Reviewed in the British journal Outlook in November 1907, the reviewer focuses on the detailed and whimsical illustrations of bold design. Dulac took inspiration from textile design and Japanese prints to depict the vibrant stories.

Recommended reading: For a modern-day, adult fairy tale, appropriately creepy to the season, we recommend The Changeling by Victor LaValle, in the Browsing Collection, PS3562 A8458 C48 2017