Rocking Horse Land and Other Classic Tales of Dolls and Toys (2000) is a beautifully curated anthology by Naomi Lewis, featuring timeless literary fairy tales about enchanted playthings, with hauntingly elegant illustrations by Angela Barrett. This collection revives lesser-known Victorian and Edwardian stories by authors like Laurence Housman, Hans Christian Andersen, and Lucy Lane Clifford, centering on toys and dolls that blur the line between magic and melancholy.
The standout title story, Rocking Horse Land (by Housman), follows a boy whose beloved rocking horse, Fortunatus, gallops into a dreamlike realm at night—a tale of longing and escapism that Barrett visualizes with her signature ethereal watercolors, full of soft light, delicate details, and a whisper of Gothic romance. Other stories, like The Doll’s Ghost (by F. Marion Crawford) or The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Andersen), explore themes of loyalty, loss, and the secret lives of objects.
Barrett’s art—reminiscent of Golden Age illustrators like Arthur Rackham but with a modern, psychological depth—elevates the anthology into a darkly enchanting keepsake. Lewis’s selections and introductions add scholarly charm, making it a bridge between classic and contemporary fairy-tale traditions.
For Fans of This Book, Try:
- The Ice Palace by Angela Barrett (illus.) – Another of her dreamlike, wintery narratives.
- The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams – A tender toy-centric classic.
- Tales of Wonder by Jane Yolen – Modern fairy tales with a similar lyrical weight.
A masterpiece for lovers of gilded melancholy.
