A noted authority on the graphic arts here considers the whole field of book illustration, tracing the development of the art and emphasizing some basic principles by a consideration of outstanding illustrated books. It is designed to serve the average reader who wants a crisp summary as well as the student who needs a broad survey that will aid him to pursue the general subject or of some of its branches or bypaths in more detail. There is a wealth of illustrations, culled from masterpieces of the past four centuries.