Goblin Market, by Christina Rossetti, illustrated by Laurence Housman, London, Macmillan and Co., 1909.

This rare book (only two other copies available online) is a beautiful example of the early ‘Golden Age’. Goblin Market is a poem by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894, sister of the famous pre-Raphaelite artist Gabriel Rossetti) that she composed in 1859. It tells the story of two sisters, of whom one gets tempted by the goblins to try their fruits. At this point the story takes a dramatic turn. The poem is well debated by literature scholars throughout the century. Some see Rossetti’s writing as an expression of early feminism and sexuality, while others see it as an indictment against the Victorian era. The illustrations by Housman intensify the events that take place. His swirly lined monsters give a sinister feel to the story. B2362