As a child, we had a book of scary stories that included some absolutely ghastly but entrancing pen-and-ink art. I'm 99% sure they're not "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark". I don't remember much, but a few things stuck with me:
- a picture of a diver in an old-timey deep sea diving suit and maybe a sea-witch type character draped in seaweed.
- at least one really creepy drawing of a willow tree
- one or more of the pictures also involved a classically gothic cliffside along the sea.
- I want to say the binding was green or teal
- no dust jacket that I recall, but it could have been missing
- as a child, it struck me as old but not ancient, so I'm guessing it was from the late 60s or early 70s maybe
- my parents let me read it, and they were Mormons and frankly not really readers, so I'm guessing it was sort of vaguely considered age appropriate in those days if parents didn't look too close.
Style-wise, as I recall it kind of split the difference between Edward Gorey (thanks, @flyingsquid@lemmy.world for unearthing my nightmare fuel) and the semi-famous Darth Maul concept art from Iain McCaig. I have downloaded the first two volumes of SStTitD, as they are technically old enough to be the ones, but while they're definitely in the same milieu they're not what I'm thinking of. The art in this had heavier linework and IIRC used pen-and-ink crosshatching instead of shading; I also can't find any images in those two that hit me as "THAT'S IT!".
This could absolutely be a wild goose chase down memory lane, but any suggestions?
I haven't even read your post, just copy pasted it into chatgpt o1 preview model and it said this:
Based on your detailed recollections, I believe the book you're searching for may be one of the anthologies by Ruth Manning-Sanders, particularly those illustrated by Robin Jacques. Here’s why:
"A Book of Ghosts and Goblins" (1968): This collection features a variety of eerie tales from around the world, all retold by Manning-Sanders. The stories often involve witches, ghosts, and other supernatural beings.
"A Book of Witches" (1965): This anthology includes tales specifically about witches, which might correlate with your memory of a sea-witch draped in seaweed.
"A Book of Mermaids" (1967): Given the sea theme and possible illustrations of underwater scenes, this book could also be a contender.
Art Style: Jacques is renowned for his intricate pen-and-ink drawings with heavy linework and detailed crosshatching, which matches your description.
Depictions: His illustrations often have a gothic and eerie feel, featuring classic elements like willow trees, cliffside scenes, and supernatural creatures.
Sample Illustrations:
Diver and Sea-Witch: While I can't access specific images, Jacques' work frequently includes mythical and maritime elements that could involve divers and sea-witches.
Creepy Willow Trees and Gothic Cliffs: His landscapes are detailed and atmospheric, possibly aligning with the images you remember.
Binding: Many editions of Manning-Sanders' books from the 60s and 70s came with green or teal bindings, especially after losing their dust jackets.
Publication Era: The books were published in the mid to late 60s, fitting your timeframe of "old but not ancient."
Age Appropriateness: These books were marketed as children's literature but often contained darker themes and illustrations that could slip past less attentive parents.
Combination of Elements: The combination of maritime tales, witches, and eerie illustrations matches the key elements you recall.
Illustrator's Style: The pen-and-ink crosshatching and gothic atmosphere in Jacques' illustrations seem to align closely with your memories.
I see it, and it's not an absurd guess, but of the suggestions so far, the "Tales to Tremble By" books seem closest. I tried AI first, though not with the entire post as a prompt. Oddly, my initial slimmer prompt got something that's closer than the full thing, though I'll leave it to the dear reader whether that says more about AI or me. Thanks for the new approach!
I am glad to see ChatGPT is a little less assertive these days about how confident it is.