The Springtide of Life – Poems of Childhood (1918) by The Springtide of Life: Poems of Childhood, illustrated by Arthur Rackham

The Springtide of Life (1918) is a tender and lyrical collection of childhood-themed poems by the Victorian poet Algernon Charles Swinburne, sensitively paired with illustrations by Arthur Rackham, one of the leading illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration. Published by William Heinemann in London and Doubleday, Page & Co. in New York, this edition is a beautiful marriage of poetry and visual art, celebrating the innocence, imagination, and fleeting beauty of youth.

The poems, selected for their gentleness and musicality, reveal a rarely seen side of Swinburne, better known for his darker, more controversial verse. In The Springtide of Life, Swinburne turns his attention to the wonder and emotional depth of early childhood, capturing moments of play, curiosity, and emotional sensitivity with heartfelt grace.

Arthur Rackham enhances this atmosphere with eight color plates and numerous delicate black-and-white line drawings. His work for this volume is among his most subtle and poetic, using soft tones and flowing lines to create images that feel both intimate and dreamlike. Children, animals, and nature appear frequently in the illustrations, rendered with a gentle whimsy that aligns perfectly with the tone of Swinburne’s verse.

About the Illustrator Arthur Rackham:

Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) was a British illustrator celebrated for his distinctive pen-and-ink style and muted watercolor palettes. His career spanned the turn of the 20th century, and he became known for illustrating classics like Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Rackham had a unique talent for capturing both the fantastical and the deeply human, making him especially suited to children’s literature and fairy tales.

Recommended for collectors:

• Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906), illustrated by Arthur Rackham – A beloved classic with richly atmospheric illustrations.
• A Child’s Garden of Verses (1905), by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith – A poetic celebration of childhood with elegant, timeless artwork.
• Mother Goose (1913), illustrated by Arthur Rackham – A collection of nursery rhymes brought vividly to life with Rackham’s playful yet refined illustrations.

Art Gallery: Arthur Rackham – Poems of Childhood 1918