Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods - The Ring of the Nibelung - Volume II - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

In the second part of Margaret Armour’s translation of Richard Wagner’s best-known work ‘The Ring of the Nibelung’, the last two opera’s in the cycle, ‘Siegfried’ and ‘The Twilight of the Gods’, are reproduced here with colour plates by Arthur Rackham. ‘Siegfried’, the third of the four operas, is primarily inspired by the story of the legendary hero Sigurd in Norse mythology. A man without fear, he attempts to learn it. This narrative is followed by the finale, ‘Götterdämmerung’ – the title of which is a translation into German of the Old Norse phrase ‘Ragnarök’, which in Norse mythology refers to a prophesied war among various beings and gods that ultimately results in the burning, immersion in water, and renewal of the world.

The book contains a series of dazzling colour and black-and-white illustrations – by a master of the craft; Arthur Rackham (1867-1939). One of the most celebrated painters of the British Golden Age of Illustration (which encompassed the years from 1850 until the start of the First World War), Rackham’s artistry is quite simply, unparalleled. Throughout his career, he developed a unique style, combining haunting humour with dream-like romance. Presented alongside the text, his illustrations further refine and elucidate Richard Wagner’s enthralling operatic cycle.

Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s literature – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration. We publish rare and vintage Golden Age illustrated books, in high-quality colour editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight both young and old.

"A Rackham illustrated book may be the singularly best way to go about Wagner uptake. Fun." - Good Reads