Mother Goose – The Old Nursery Rhymes is a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes, penned by the legendary (and only some claim imaginary), Mother Goose. They have inspired many folklorists and illustrators (including Charles Perrault, Arthur Rackham, Jessie Willcox-Smith and Jennie Harbour) – as well as countless generations of children and parents. In the foreword, Rackham states that he has ‘chosen those rhymes I knew and liked best in my own nursery days… altering and adding to our old friend Mother Goose’s original collection.’
The Old Nursery Rhymes are accompanied by a series of dazzling colour illustrations by Arthur Rackham (1867-1939). 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 the wonderful poetry of Mother Goose Rhymes.
