1914 Rare Book - Feats on the Fiord illustrated by by Arthur Rackham

A beautifully preserved early twentieth-century edition of Harriet Martineau's Feats on the Fiord, illustrated by Arthur Rackham with eight colour plates, in a richly gilt-decorated pictorial binding.

Author: Harriet Martineau.
Title: Feats on the Fiord.
Publisher: London: J. M. Dent & Sons Limited; New York: E. P. Dutton & Company, circa 1914.
Edition: Early illustrated edition, undated.
Language: English.
Pages: 128 pages.
Size: 7 x 5 inches.
Binding: Very good original green cloth binding, beautifully decorated in gilt with an elaborate floral border, a stylized bird, gilt lettering and a mounted colour illustration to the front cover. The spine is similarly embellished with gilt floral designs. Light rubbing and minor signs of age, particularly at the extremities, but the binding remains remarkably attractive, with its gilt decoration well preserved. Protected in a removable mylar cover. 
Content: Very good content, clean and well preserved, with light age toning and occasional minor marks. An attractive handwritten Christmas 1916 gift inscription appears on the front free endpaper, together with a small bookseller's stamp.
Illustrations: Eight colour plates by Arthur Rackham, coloured by W. Cubitt Cooke, including the frontispiece, with decorative illustrations on the title page.

Estimate: $225–250 USD.

The book: First published in 1841, Feats on the Fiord is a captivating adventure story set amid the dramatic mountains, forests and waterways of Norway. Harriet Martineau follows the fortunes of a Norwegian family and their companions as they encounter mysterious happenings, dangerous pirates, local superstitions and unexpected acts of courage. Against a richly evoked Scandinavian landscape, the narrative explores loyalty, perseverance, friendship and the triumph of reason over fear.

This charming illustrated edition brings Martineau's nineteenth-century tale to life through eight atmospheric colour plates by Arthur Rackham, originally drawn in 1899 and subsequently coloured by W. Cubitt Cooke. Snow-covered villages, secluded fjords, sailing vessels and adventurous young characters are rendered with Rackham's characteristic expressive line and imaginative detail. The particularly attractive green and gilt pictorial binding, with its elaborate floral ornamentation and mounted illustration, makes this a delightful example of an illustrated Edwardian-era children's classic.

The author: Harriet Martineau (1802–1876) was a pioneering English writer, journalist and social commentator, widely regarded as one of the most influential intellectual women of the nineteenth century. Best known for her writings on political economy, society, education and social reform, she also produced engaging literature for younger readers. Her travels in Europe and her interest in different cultures informed works such as Feats on the Fiord, which combines geographical observation with adventure and moral reflection.

The illustrator: Arthur Rackham (1867–1939) was one of the most celebrated British illustrators of the Golden Age of book illustration. Renowned for his intricate pen-and-ink drawings, atmospheric landscapes and imaginative interpretations of fairy tales and literary classics, Rackham illustrated works by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Lewis Carroll and J. M. Barrie, among many others.

His illustrations for Feats on the Fiord belong to an early period of his career, before the great illustrated gift books for which he became internationally famous. Originally created in 1899, these drawings already reveal his gift for dramatic composition, expressive figures and evocative natural settings. Their later colouring adds a distinctive warmth to this appealing edition.