Tales of Mystery & Imagination (1935) – Edgar Allan Poe, Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

The 1935 edition of Tales of Mystery & Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe, illustrated by Arthur Rackham, is one of the most haunting and visually arresting interpretations of Poe’s macabre masterpieces. Published by George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., this edition brought together two titans of Gothic storytelling—Poe, the American master of psychological horror, and Rackham, the British illustrator famed for his dark, fantastical imagery.

This collection includes many of Poe’s most celebrated stories, such as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Masque of the Red Death. Rackham’s illustrations provide a brooding and ethereal counterpart to Poe’s gothic imagination, capturing the psychological dread, decaying grandeur, and spectral beauty of the tales.

Arthur Rackham’s contributions to this edition are remarkable for their departure from the fairy tale whimsy of his earlier work. His palette is more subdued, dominated by shadowy hues, sepia tones, and detailed linework that mirrors the themes of madness, death, and decay. Rackham’s figures are distorted and surreal—perfect visual echoes of Poe’s unstable narrators and haunted settings. He produced twelve color plates and numerous black-and-white drawings for the volume, many of which are considered among his most atmospheric and mature works.

This edition stands as a landmark in the art of book illustration, uniting Poe’s timeless tales with Rackham’s visionary imagery to create an essential volume for collectors of horror literature and illustrated classics.

About the Illustrator:
Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) was one of the most celebrated illustrators of the Golden Age of British book illustration. His career spanned works ranging from Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906) to A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1908), and The Wind in the Willows (illustrated posthumously in 1940). Known for his intricate pen work and muted watercolor tones, Rackham blended whimsy with eerie sophistication. In Tales of Mystery & Imagination, he explored a darker visual realm, demonstrating his versatility and ability to portray psychological complexity and terror with subtlety and nuance.

Recommended for the collector:

• Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1909) – Rackham’s breakthrough work featuring his iconic fairy tale illustrations
• The Arthur Rackham Fairy Book (1933) – A later compilation showcasing his evolving style
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1907) – Another of Rackham’s classic
• Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1919), illustrated by Harry Clarke – An earlier, more ornate interpretation of Poe’s tales in a richly decorative Art Nouveau style.

Other Arthur Rackham’s illustrated books available in our gallery: Rip Van Winkle, Book of Pictures, The Night Before Christmas, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Midsummer’s Night Dream, Undine, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan in Kensington Garden, The Ingoldsby Legends, Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

Art Gallery: Arthur Rackham – Tales of Mystery & Imagination 1935