This is the first detailed survey of the past five centuries of book illustration in England. It is divided into two parts: Part One is a comprehensive analysis of specific artists, books and illustrations and covers the anonymous work in books by leading printers before 1600 and then the work of over 200 illustrators up to 1976; Part Two, a Catalogue of Illustrations and Books, lists 2,700 selected entries of English illustrations and includes 200 reproductions, chosen to illustrate the discussion.Edward Hodnett gives a general impression of each artist's work, describes the subject-matter of the designs, notes their relation to other illustrations, and attempts to reach an estimate of the artist's relative achievement as an interpretive illustrator. The book also features bibliographies and a comprehensive, alphabetical index of illustrators, printers, booksellers, presses, and engravers.