Howard Pyle, a chronicle by Charles D. Abbott, with an introduction by N. C. Wyeth and many illustrations from Howard Pyle's works.

HOWARD PYLE: A CHRONICLE
The Wonder Clock., and was embellished with a series of
twenty-four delightful little verses by the author's sister,
Miss Katherine Pyle. The stories were of the same general
character as those which had made up Pepper and Salt, but
the workmanship was, if anything, better. There was even
more charm, even more polish, and a much greater variety
in subject. According to the plan of the book, every hour
brought forth a new tale from the dilapidated old Wonder
Clock which stood in Time's garret. Here again princesses
and kings lived in the land of make-believe, the great Red
Fox and Grandfather Mole talked with truly human
sagacity. This book was an immediate success; its total lack
of affectation made it an instant favorite. Howard Pyle himself always considered it his best book of fairy tales. It is
interesting to note that the book has continued to grow in
popularity through the years rather than to diminish. Six
times as many copies were sold in 19 19 as in 18 89.
After the publication of the Wonder Clock there followed
a period when the other phases of Howard Pyle's genius
kept him from turning his attention to the realms of faery.
It was not until 1895 that the third and last book of this
nature, TsWlight Land, appeared. Although in many ways
it was an excellent collection of tales, it seemed to lack the
inspiration of the two preceding volumes. Laurence Hutton
claimed that one of the stories, "The Talisman of Solomon,"
was one of the best that the author had ever written, but
this could hardly be said of the rest of the book. The old
fairy-tale zest which had been the distinguishing feature
of The Wonder Clock and Pepper and Salt had to a certain
extent passed away; Howard Pyle's mind was more occupied with other things. Still, this is not a book to be con-.
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