Figure 1.--This color C.E. Brock plate shows Cedric in a blue velvet suit when he firsrt met the Earl, his grandfather.

At this time I know little about the illustrator. Charles E. Brock was the brother of H. M. Brock. They were both book illustrators in the period around 1900-1930. One HBC contributor believes H.M. was the better artist. Brock is probably best known for his classic illustrations of Jane Austin novels published in the late 19th and early 20th century. Brock's illustrations seem to present Regency clothing styles fairly well, and they also enter into the spirit of the humor often present. We noticed his illustrations for a volume of Little Lord Fauntleroy. He also did the charming illustrations in the first edition of The Railway Children.

Biography

At this time I know little about the illustrator Charles E. Brock. He was an important earliy 20th century illustrator. Unfortunately we have almost no literary details. Wewould be interested in any biograhical information that readers may be able to find. Brock was the brother of H.M. Brock. They were both book illustrators in the period around 1900-1930. One HBC contributor believes H.M. was the better artist. C.E. also did religious illustrations, such as a book of Bible stories with his pictures. One thing's for sure, both brothers were far superior to most book illustrators working today.

Jane Austin Books

Brock is probably best known for his classic illustrations of Jane Austin novels in the late 19th and early 20th century:

Pride and Prejudice, 1895: Brock's illustrations seem to present Regency clothing styles fairly well, and they also enter into the spirit of the humor often present in Pride and Prejudice--and above all, they don't make Elizabeth Bennet and other sensible young females look silly!

Emma, about 1907-08

Mansfield Park

Northanger Abbey

Persuasion

Sense and Sensibility

Figure 2.--Cedric is pictured here with the Earl's dog, Dougal. Notice the cuels and above the knees knickers. Notice the star-point design of the lace collar.

Little Lord Fauntleroy

Burnett, Francis H. Little Lord Fauntleroy. An edition published by Warne in 1925 had beautiful illustrations by C.E. Brock (brother of another story illustrator, H.M. Brock). A few of the pictures are color plates, showing a royal blue velvet suit, which looks a bit black in available drawings. The remainder of the illustrations are monochrome sketches. The Brock drawings have many similarities with the classic original drawings by Reginald Birch, the illustrator chosen by Mrs. Burnett in the original 1885 first edition. The poses were different, although some of the same scenes were selected. Little Lord Fauntleroy was pictuted in a black velvet suit, rather like the original Birch drawings. The suit was not the classic suit worn in the 1880s and 90s with a fancy lace blouse and small velvet jacket. Rather the suit has a large jacket with white front buttons compleletly covering his blouse or shirt (you can't tell which he is wearing). The velvet jacket has a lace collar with star points and matching wrist cuffs. The velvet suit is worn with knickers, in this case above the knee knickers with long black stockings. The suit also has a bright red sash. The suit is worn with formal buckle shoes. Little Lord Fauntleroy in these Brock drawings has long blond curls. They are not quite the formal ringlet curls so popular in the United States. The hair is more curled than in the original drawings, but somewhat shorter.

The Railway Children

Brock did the charming illustrtions for the first edition of Edith Nesbit's classic children's book, The Railway Children `(1906). The illustrations very accurately depict the contemporary Edwardian clothing styles.

Other Books

Other books Brock illustrated have included:

Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn, Cranford. ill. C.E. Brock. NY, n.d
THACKERAY, William M., Henry Esmond. ed. Jerrold. ill. Brock. 1901. 2 vol.