A Fantasy Forgotten: Dorothy P. Lathrop’s Tales from the Enchanted Isles

In the world of illustrated books, certain volumes fall through the cracks of fame—not because they lack beauty or merit, but because their moment, like a quiet star, was simply eclipsed by brighter lights. Ethel May Gate’s Tales from the Enchanted Isles, published in 1926 and illustrated by the remarkable Dorothy P. Lathrop, is such a volume. It is a treasure waiting to be rediscovered, a book that captures the twilight of the Golden Age of Illustration with grace and subtlety.

Ethel May Gate was a British author whose fairy-tale collections—Tales from the Secret Kingdom (1919), The Broom Fairies (1922), and this volume—enjoyed a modest popularity in the 1920s . Her stories were of the old school: enchanted galleons, singing waters, golden violets, and questing knights. The fourteen tales in Tales from the Enchanted Isles bear titles like “The Curiosity Shop,” “The Young Knight,” “The Lamp from Fairyland,” and “The Tree of Stone”—names that promise a world of wonder . Gate wrote in a style that was lyrical yet restrained, allowing the illustrations to carry much of the emotional weight.

But it is Dorothy Pulis Lathrop (1891–1980) who elevates this volume from a simple fairy-tale collection to a work of art. Lathrop was an American illustrator whose career spanned nearly five decades, during which she illustrated more than thirty-eight books and wrote nine of her own. She would later achieve lasting fame as the illustrator of Rachel Field’s Newbery Medal-winning Hitty, Her First Hundred Years (1929) and as the recipient of the inaugural Caldecott Medal in 1938 for Animals of the Bible . But in 1926, she was still building her reputation—and Tales from the Enchanted Isles showcases her mature style at a crucial moment of development.

The book was published jointly by Yale University Press in New Haven and Oxford University Press in London—an unusual collaboration that speaks to the ambitions of the project. It was a handsome octavo volume, measuring approximately 25 centimeters in height, bound in cloth with a design that hinted at the enchantment within. The first edition contained a color frontispiece—a single, striking color plate—alongside numerous black-and-white illustrations scattered throughout the 118 pages. Lathrop’s black-and-white work in this volume is particularly noteworthy. Her style, often compared to that of Aubrey Beardsley for its intricate line work and decorative sensibility, possessed a softer, more ethereal quality. Her figures—fairies, knights, children—are rendered with a delicate precision that rewards sustained attention.

Lathrop’s later career was defined by her devotion to animals and the natural world—themes that earned her the affectionate title “the fairy of the animals” among admirers. In Tales from the Enchanted Isles, one can see the seeds of this lifelong passion. Her illustrations capture not only the human characters but the creatures of these enchanted realms: birds, beasts, and the subtle presences that dwell between the seen and the unseen.

Today, first editions of Tales from the Enchanted Isles are scarce. For collectors of Golden Age illustration, for admirers of Lathrop’s work, and for those who simply love the quiet beauty of a forgotten book, it remains a treasure—a reminder that even the most enchanted isles, once visited, can linger in the memory forever.

Recommended for Collectors

• Hitty, Her First Hundred Years (1929) by Rachel Field, illustrated by Lathrop – A Newbery-winning classic with her art
• The Fairy Circus (1931), written and illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop – A whimsical tale featuring fairies and performing animals.
• The Wind in the Willows (1933) illustrated by Arthur Rackham – For another magical interpretation of nature
• The Silver Pony (1928), written and illustrated by Lynd Ward – A wordless storybook full of magical realism and dramatic woodcut-style imagery.

Art Gallery: Dorothy P. Lathrop – Tales from the Enchanted Isles 1926