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This story, ‘The Diverting History Of John Gilpin’, was one of the first two books illustrated by Caldecott and was originally published in 1878. Written by William Cowper (1731 - 1800), the comic ballad tells the tale of a draper named John Gilpin, who rides a runaway horse. Cowper heard the story from Lady Anna Austen at a time of severe depression, and it cheered him up so much that he put it into verse. Ever since its first publication in 1782, the poem has continued to ‘cheer’ one and all who read it. Caldecott’s beautiful, full-colour illustrations only serve to further the good-natured humour and adventure of this poem. Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886) was one of the most important British illustrators. He transformed the world of decorated children’s books in the Victorian era. In 1877, he was asked by Edmund Evans, the colour printer and talented engraver, to illustrate two children’s books. These books were an immediate success and he went on to produce two books every Christmas until he died. Caldecott chose all the stories and rhymes he illustrated and occasionally wrote and 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 Golden Age illustrated books, in high-quality colour editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight.
