John Dickson Batten

John Dickson Batten
John Dickson Batten (1860–1932) was an English painter, writer, and illustrator known for his collaboration with fairy tale collector Joseph Jacobs. He illustrated several volumes of fairy tales, including "English Fairy Tales" and "Celtic Fairy Tales." Batten's artistic style combined intricate details with vibrant colors, making his illustrations a notable feature of these works. Besides his contributions to literature, he was also a member of the Arts and Crafts movement, advocating for artistic craftsmanship and design.

Author's Books:


PREFACE Ever since—almost exactly a hundred years ago—the Grimms produced their Fairy Tale Book, folk-lorists have been engaged in making similar collections for all the other countries of Europe, outside Germany, till there is scarcely a nook or a corner in the whole continent that has not been ransacked for these products of the popular fancy. The Grimms themselves and most of their followers... more...

The Pied Piper Newtown, or Franchville, as 't was called of old, is a sleepy little town, as you all may know, upon the Solent shore. Sleepy as it is now, it was once noisy enough, and what made the noise was—rats. The place was so infested with them as to be scarce worth living in. There wasn't a barn or a corn-rick, a store-room or a cupboard, but they ate their way into it. Not a cheese... more...