This work investigates the evolution and technical development of English book illustration over a five-hundred-year period. Edward Hodnett, a scholar of graphic arts, utilizes a comprehensive historical framework to analyze how printing techniques, artistic styles, and the relationship between text and image shifted from the early days of the printing press through the twentieth century. The book argues that the history of illustration is inseparable from the technological advancements in reproduction methods and the changing aesthetic demands of the reading public.

Experts and historians frequently cite this volume as a foundational reference for understanding the development of English graphic arts. Readers often note the academic density of the prose and the meticulous attention to technical detail provided by the author.