This beloved edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic 1885 poetry collection is brought to life through the enchanting Art Nouveau-inspired illustrations of Millicent Sowerby, a prolific early 20th-century artist known for her delicate, dreamlike style. Sowerby’s watercolor paintings—softly tinted and brimming with whimsical detail—perfectly capture the innocence and imagination of childhood that Stevenson’s verses celebrate.
From “The Land of Counterpane” to “My Shadow” and “The Lamplighter,” Sowerby’s illustrations wrap each poem in a cozy, nostalgic glow, featuring children in flowing Edwardian dresses, idyllic gardens, and moonlit bedrooms. Her work complements Stevenson’s timeless themes of play, solitude, and wonder, making this 1912 edition a standout among the many illustrated versions of the collection.
A treasure for collectors of Golden Age children’s literature, Sowerby’s interpretation remains one of the most visually distinctive renditions of this enduring classic.
