Wood-engravings by Lynd Ward; six black & white full-page, plus one colour frontispiece and fifteen chapter headers.
Summary Note
`Three wandering minstrels and a lonely, lost maid; their chivalrous friendship and care for her until she becomes part of the household of the great Dürer: the pursuit of the witch-hunter and her thrilling delivery from his hostile activities; these are the main points of a new story which every girl will want to read.
The rich historical background o Germany in the days of guilds and meistersingers, is deftly handled. Adult readers as well as youngsters will be fascinated by the picture of old Nürnberg and of Dürer’s household, by the sub-plot of the young artist who worked for Dürer, his ambitions and his discoveries in engraving.
May McNeer (Mrs. Lynd Ward) was recognized at once as a writer of high literary merit with her first book, Prince Bantam. This second book grew out of many notes and much thoughtful observation and study while the Wards were living in Germany. They know the very forest, the very towns, where these exciting incidents take place.
While the `waif maid’ Else, and her cat `Fraulein Bach,’ are most appealing, her three cavaliers, Hans, Werner and Melchior, each a wonderful invention as a probable medieval character, are most memorable; with the wonderful Dürer, they make an unforgettable group, worthy to stand beside such young people’s favorites as The Three Musketeers, and the newer of Robin Hood’s Tales.’ [dustjacket].
Binding Note
Black cloth boards with small orange paper woodcut plate on upper cover. Spine label: `Waif Maid. McNeer. Macmillan'. Dustjacket with repeat of the colour frontispiece on front and small wood-engraving on the back.