This story, ‘An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog’, was originally published in 1879 as one of Randolph Caldecott’s sixteen ‘Picture Books’. These were published in pairs each Christmas from 1877 until Caldecott’s death in 1886. Randolph Caldecott (1846 - 1886) was one of the most important British illustrators of the Victorian period. He transformed the world of decorated children’s books, with his delicate yet considered drawings and imaginative subject choices. Caldecott selected all the stories and rhymes he illustrated (and occasionally wrote) and frequently added to the stories himself. His delightful style and humour can still be enjoyed by young and old alike. Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration’ in children’s literature - a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration. We publish rare and vintage classic illustrated books, in high-quality colour editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight both young and old.