A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys

by Hawthorne, Nathaniel; Rackham, Arthur

• ISBN13: 9780679436430
• ISBN10: 067943643X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1994-09-27
• Publisher: Everyman's Library

Summary

Six legends of Greek mythology, retold for children by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Included are The Gorgon's Head, The Golden Touch, The Paradise of Children, The Three Golden Apples, The Miraculous Pitcher, and The Chimaera. In 1838, Hawthorne suggested to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that they collaborate on a story for children based on the legend of the Pandora's Box, but this never materialized. He wroteA Wonder Bookbetween April and July 1851, adapting six legends most freely from Charles Anton'sA Classical Dictionary(1842). He set out deliberately to "modernize" the stories, freeing them from what he called "cold moonshine" and using a romantic, readable style that was criticized by adults but proved universally popular with children. With full-color illustrations throughout by Arthur Rackham.

Author Biography

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and made his ambition to be a writer while still a teenager. He graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine, where the poet Longfellow was also a student, and spent several years travelling in New England and writing short stories before his best-known novel The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850. His writing was not at first financially rewarding and he worked as measurer and surveyor in the Boston and Salem Custom Houses. In 1853 he was sent to Liverpool as American consul and then lived in Italy before returning to the US in 1860, where he died in his sleep four years later.

His interest in Greek mythology led him to suggest to Longfellow in 1838 that they collaborate on a story for children based on the legend of Pandora's Box, but this never materialized. He wrote A Wonder-Book between April and July 1851, adapting six legends most freely from Charles Anton's A Classical Dictionary (1842). He set out deliberately to 'modernize' the stories, freeing them from what he called 'cold moonshine' and using a romantic, readable style that was criticized by adults but proved universally popular with children.

Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) was born in south London, the fourth of twelve children. He worked as an office clerk before becoming a full-time illustrator in 1893. His reputation was established with the publication of his illustrations to the Grimm fairy tales in 1900. Thereafter some ninety books appeared with his distinctive pictures, including A Wonder Book in 1922.

Table of Contents

The Gorgon's Head
Tanglewood Porch--Introductory to The Gorgon's Head	p. 15
The Gorgon's Head	p. 21
Tanglewood Porch--After the Story	p. 57
The Golden Touch
Shadow Brook--Introductory to The Golden Touch	p. 60
The Golden Touch	p. 64
Shadow Brook--After the Story	p. 90
The Paradise of Children
Tanglewood Play-Room--Introductory to The Paradise of Children	p. 94
The Paradise of Children	p. 99
Tanglewood Play-Room--After the Story	p. 124
The Three Golden Apples
Tanglewood Fireside--Introductory to The Three Golden Apples	p. 126
The Three Golden Apples	p. 133
Tanglewood Fireside--After the Story	p. 163
The Miraculous Pitcher
The Hill-Side--Introductory to the Miraculous Pitcher	p. 167
The Miraculous Pitcher	p. 171
The Hill-Side--After the Story	p. 200
The Chimaera
Bald-Summit--Introductory to The Chimaera	p. 202
The Chimaera	p. 206
Bald-Summit--After the Story	p. 238
List of Designs
Half-Title	p. 1
Frontispiece--Bellerophon on Pegasus	p. 2
Title	p. 3
Preface	p. 8
Tailpiece	p. 9
Contents	p. 11
List of Designs	p. 12
Tailpiece	p. 13
Headpiece--Tanglewood Porch	p. 15
The Gorgon's Head--Headpiece	p. 21
Perseus and the Graiae	p. 37
Perseus armed by the Nymphs	p. 42
Perseus and the Gorgons	p. 49
Perseus showing the Gorgon's Head	p. 54
Tailpiece	p. 56
Headpiece--Tanglewood Porch, After the Story	p. 57
Tailpiece	p. 59
Headpiece--Shadow Brook	p. 60
The Golden Touch--Headpiece	p. 64
The Stranger appearing to Midas	p. 69
Midas' Daughter turned to Gold	p. 82
Midas with the Pitcher	p. 87
Tailpiece	p. 89
Headpiece--Shadow Brook, After the Story	p. 90
Tailpiece	p. 93
Headpiece--Tanglewood Play-Room	p. 94
Tailpiece	p. 98
The Paradise of Children--Headpiece	p. 99
Pandora wonders at the Box	p. 102
Pandora desires to open the Box	p. 109
Pandora opens the Box	p. 116
Tailpiece	p. 123
Headpiece--Tanglewood Play-Room, After the Story	p. 124
Headpiece--Tanglewood Fireside	p. 126
Tailpiece	p. 132
The Three Golden Apples--Headpiece	p. 133
Hercules and the Nymphs	p. 137
Hercules and the Old Man of the Sea	p. 146
Hercules and Atlas	p. 153
Tailpiece	p. 162
Headpiece--Tanglewood Fireside, After the Story	p. 163
Tailpiece	p. 166
Headpiece--The Hill-Side	p. 167
Tailpiece	p. 170
The Miraculous Pitcher--Headpiece	p. 171
Philemon and Baucis	p. 172
The Strangers in the Village	p. 177
The Strangers entertained	p. 188
Tailpiece	p. 199
Headpiece--The Hill-Side, After the Story	p. 200
Tailpiece	p. 201
Headpiece--Bald Summit	p. 202
Tailpiece	p. 205
The Chimaera--Headpiece	p. 206
Bellerophon at the Fountain	p. 211
Bellerophon slays the Chimaera	p. 232
Tailpiece	p. 237
Headpiece--Bald Summit, After the Story	p. 238
Tailpiece	p. 242
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