In order to fully appreciate and comprehend what Charles and Mary Lamb accomplished in their "Tales from Shakespeare", one would have to be thoroughly familiar with each play in its original form: fortunately, such formidable knowledge is not necessary to enjoy this sparkling collection. The motivating force behind this colossal enterprise was a desire to enhance the children's literature of the early 1800s with vital and intricate stories that were at once appetizing and substantial. To turn to Shakespeare as a source was an obvious choice. That they would be aided by the artistry of Elizabeth Shippen Green Elliott whose illustrations were done more than a century later was hardly obvious but certainly providential.