The illustrations in my grandmother's copy of The Yearling were my introduction to the luminous work of N.C. Wyeth. I loved them because they were true to the bits of Old Florida still to be seen the early Fifties -- the tall pines, the tannin tinted rivers, the palmetto scrub.
N.C. Wyeth's illustrations defined many a book for me and others of my generations -- the courtly knights of The Boy's Book of King Arthur . . .
or the resourceful Robinson Crusoe . . .
Or Treasure Island's Blind Pew, tapping his sightless way through the night to leave the Black Spot (and scare the bejeezus out of the reader) . . .
Or the gallant Robin Hood, on his deathbed . . .
Emily Dickinson tells us "There is no frigate like a Book/ To take us Lands away . . ."
Very true. But, oh! if that book was illustrated by N.C. Wyeth, how much richer those Lands will be!
(All images from THIS LINK. You might want to while away a little time in Wyeth's wonderful art.)
