EXTRACTS: Pirates! Illustrators Special Edition © 2020 The Book Palace (128 PAGES in Full edition)

88 that had always fascinated him (and an area where he excelled, due to the attention to detail in his paintings). In 1881, in a Quaker wedding, he married Anne Poole— a singer he had met a year previously. Together they had six children. In 1883, already assured that his writing was up to his artistic talents, he decided to write (and illustrate) his own books. In the beginning he based his books on le‐ gendary historical characters, beginning with ‘The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood of Great Renown in Notting‐ shire’ (to give it its original title), which was published in 1883. Nearly every inch of the book was created by Pyle: the story, the illustrations, the headings of every chapter, and the type of lettering used. Although meant as a book for children, it won international attention when William Morris, a British textile designer, poet, novelist and socialist activist, praised the quality not only of Pyle’s illustrations, but his writing as well. The success of the Robin Hood book, led Pyle into writing (and illustrating) other similar books, all aimed at children. Although Pyle is now remembered mainly as an artist, his books have also received favourable reputations for their literary qualities. Of his book ‘Otto of the Silver Hand’ (1888), Michael Usrey, anAmericanwriter and critic had this to say: “[The book] has all the marks of a good historical novel: it has an exciting plot, with ample conflict and believable characters; it uses language and dialect appropriate to its setting and the characters; it has a significant, universal theme, and it presents the details of daily life in Germany of the thirteenth century accurately and unobtrusively, making the period real and alive.” Not bad for someone who was never considered a real writer. In 1889, he and his wife sailed to Jamaica, and left their children in the care of relatives. While overseas, their son, Text continued from page 82