Book excerpt: Maxfield Parrish left a legacy of magnificent paintings, but he is best appreciated in the context of his own life and times. This book provides that context with an overview of the era in which American illustrative art flourished. When Parrish first arrived on the publishing scene in the 1890s, "mass media" meant print media. From Arthurian legends to American fables like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, stories were avidly read by a literate population. New printing technology made color illustrations possible, a liberating element for artists and a delight for readers. Part lively Parrish biography and part lucid historical analysis, this book offers a treasure trove of illustrations from classic children's literature by Parrish and his contemporaries, accompanied by excerpts from the stories.