Rip Van Winkle

Here, in one of its most breathtaking versions, is the epitome of American folklore. Washington Irving's classic tale of the happy-go-lucky Catskill farmer whose encounter with a ghostly group of ninepin players caused him to sleep through the American Revolution has enchanted readers of all ages for more than one hundred and seventy years. Although Irving's masterpiece has been illustrated by many fine artists, none has captured so magnificently the tale's rich blend of humor, drama, and magic as Arthur Rackham, the preeminent pioneer of children's book illustration. Considered to be among his finest work, Rackham's " Rip Van Winkle" was first published in 1905 and has long been unavailable. This sumptuous new edition display Rackham's genius to the full. In fifty-one mesmerizing watercolors he reveals the fashions and foibles of eighteenth-century American life in masterfully wrought detail and brilliantly depicts the changes that the astonished Rip must face upon waking from his legendary twenty-year-long nap.

About the Author :
Washington Irving Was born in New York City in 1783. He lived in the United States, England, and Spain (where he served as an American diplomatic attache). A prolific author, Irving wrote The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., Diedrich Knickerbocker's History of New York, The Alhambra, and biographies of George Washington and Christopher Columbus, among other works. He is best remembered, however, for his two most famous stories, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle." N[ewell] C[onvers] Wyeth is one of the most famous and beloved American illustrators of the twentieth century. A student of Howard Pyle's Brandywine School of American Illustration, Wyeth became known around the world for his work. His powerful, romantic illustrations for such classics as Treasure Island, Robin Hood, and Robinson Crusoe have shaped the imaginations of four generations. Peter Glassman is the owner of Books of Wonder, the New York City bookstore and publisher specializing in new and old imaginative books for children. He is also the editor of the Books of Wonder Classics, a series of deluxe facsimiles and newly illustrated editions of timeless tales. And he is the author of The Wizard Next Door, illustrated by Steven Kellogg. Mr. Glassman lives in New York City.