This weekend I finished a duo of shorter stories by J.R.R Tolkien entitled “Smith of  Wotton Major” and “Farmer Giles of Ham“, the stories were mystical, fantastical and all around wonderful. Adding to the wonder that the Tolkien weaved in his stories were illustrations that only added to his writing prowess.

After a bit of research I found that the illustrator was a  British lady named Pauline Diana Baynes, who has worked not only with Tolkien, but C.S. Lewis as well, illustrating many scenes of Narnia, which has captured my imagination ever since my teacher read “the Magician’s Nephew” out loud to me in Grade 4.

Tolkien was so pleased with Baynes’ work for him on Farmer Giles that he said her work “reduced my text to a commentary on her drawings”.