The Wonder Clock

“Pyle was one of the late nineteenth century writers who helped invent the fairy tale novel.” —Jane Yolen

Famous and influential as a preeminent illustrator, Howard Pyle was also a gifted writer beloved by millions — young and old — for his endearing and enchanting fairy tales. The Wonder Clock is a delightful, magical collection of whimsical stories: twenty-four stories for twenty-four hours. And each a timeless masterpiece. Peopled with jolly kings and queens, lovely princesses and evil witches, sly foxes and mischievous ravens, ogres and giants, dashing princes and nasty dragons, these are old fashioned fairly tales in the best and most beautiful sense that can be enjoyed by readers of any age.

This edition also includes Pyle’s dazzling illustrations.

Kathleen Karr - Children's Literature

One of his two noted collections of fairytales based on folklore (the other is Pepper and Salt,) Pyle originally wrote these stories for "Harper's Young People," a popular illustrated weekly of the period for children. This new reprint includes his classic illustrations as well as the embellishing verses by Katherine Pyle. Twenty-four stories one for every hour of the day are recounted, most introduced under the eye of Katherine Pyle's mischievous hearth sprite, the kobold. The fairytales themselves are in the traditional mode: strong young men, faithful servants and brave soldiers receiving their just rewards for derring do. But what of the women? Howard Pyle's world is still one where wicked princesses are turned into dutiful wives with a little judicious beating certainly effective, yet no longer a politically correct solution! Still, the stories are wonderfully retold. As a writer Pyle had a marvelous turn of phrase. The Grey Goose's troubles with her fox husband become "nothing but tangled yarn." The Drummer's courage is summed up by, "if one never goes out for fear of rain one never catches fish." These venerable tales can still be read by adults for the sheer pleasure of the style and read to children for insights into other times. 2003 (orig. 1888), Starscape,

During what has come to be known as the golden age of illustration, Howard Pyle was America's foremost artist/illustrator. Born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1853, he developed his talents at a precociously early age. His specialty was the illustration of historical adventure stories, working for important periodicals such as Harper's Magazine and St. Nicholas. Very seldom does it happen that an excellent illustrator is also an excellent writer (or vice versa), but Howard Pyle, in this as in so much else, proved himself exceptional. Although he is remembered first and foremost as a visual artist, he wrote so well that many of his books are considered classics: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, Otto of the Silver Hand, The Story of King Arthur and His Knights, plus several other volumes of Arthurian fiction, and, of course, Men of Iron. At the height of his fame, at the relatively youthful age of 58, Pyle died rather suddenly from a kidney infection. But he left behind quite a vital legacy. A comprehensive collection of his work may be viewed at the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington. And of course, his historical adventure writings remain in print — everywhere.