A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys (The ^AIona and Peter Opie Library of Children's Literature) - Hardcover

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195107187 ISBN 13: 9780195107180

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1996

Synopsis

Here are the stories of King Midas, Pandora, Medusa, Hercules, and the other inhabitants of Mount Olympus told by one of America's greatest writers. Written in 1851 as a money-maker for the struggling Hawthorne, A Wonder Book has become a favorite for generations of children everywhere. Hawthorne's mastery of adventure and his command of narrative and character open a child's mind to the wondrous landscapes of ancient mythology in stories such as "The Gorgon's Head" and "The Three Golden Apples." Oxford has created a beautiful and memorable edition of this classic children's text with illustrations by famed book artist Walter Crane, whose full-color plates and decorative art originally accompanied the text in the late 1800s. An introduction by Ola d'Aulaire, son of the creators of D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, sets the stage for the young reader, and an afterword for adults by Hawthorne scholar Joel Pfister places A Wonder Book in Hawthorne's body of work and in historical context, conveying the strength of its romantic imagination in the face of the encroaching Industrial Revolution. Adults and collectors will find this major new edition a treasure and their children will happily enter a world of magic and imagination, led by one of the greatest American storytellers.

About this title

About the Author:

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), though best known for his novels and short stories for adults, also produced several works for children, including a companion volume to A Wonder Book called Tanglewood Tales (1853).
About the Illustrator:
Walter Crane (1845-1915) was one of the most popular English illustrators of children's books in the late nineteenth century. He was one of the first book artists to experiment with color in picture books.

Review:

From Seven Gables to Six Myths
"A handsome replica of the original 1893 edition, A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys by Nathaniel Hawthorne features Medusa, Hercules, Pandora, Midas et al--and the art of the illustrious Walter Crane.... Crane's color plates are lushly romantic in style; the plainer printed story titles and
illuminated letters are just as beautiful."--Publishers Weekly

"Hawthorne's delightful retelling of Greek myths displays his command of narrative and character as well as his sense of adventure. The stories of Midas, Medusa, Hercules, and others will delight both children and adult readers."--The Tampa Tribune Times

"A marvelous recreation of mythological tales in text and drawing. A delight for all ages."--King Features Syndicate

"An exceptionally fine series of Hawthorne retellings of Greek classics.... An excellent keepsake edition."--The Children's Bookwatch

"These stories have seldom been better dressed."--Book Reviews on the Internet

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0195107187
• ISBN 13: 9780195107180
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256
• Illustrator: Crane Walter