At a time when the art of book and magazine illustration was at its zenith, Edwin Austin Abbey was recognized as one of its most distinguished masters. Perhaps the most popular and successful artist of his day, Abbey's genius as an illustrator, principally of William Shakespeare's works and English songs and tales, is derived from his crisp and refined pen-and-ink work and from his devotion to historical research and authenticity. The story embellishments he provided through his elegant illustrations were complementary not only because of their charm and beauty but also because of the artist's remarkable compassion and comprehension of their English themes. Abbey was both an illustrator and an artist in the fullest sense. From his small black-and-white illustrations for Harper's Weekly and Harper's Monthly magazines to his grand mural paintings in the Boston Public Library and Pennsylvania State Capitol, his work was characterized by an exceptional...