The article about The Reverend Richard Harris Barham (December 6th 1788 to June 17th 1845), who wrote his Legends using the pen name Thomas Ingoldsby, introduces and gives a few extracts from the book.
There is a little more to say about The Ingoldsby Legends and its author, and the 180th anniversary of Richard Barham's death is a very suitable occasion for another article.
The Legends first appeared as a magazine series in 1837, and they were first published in book form in 1840.
The Legends were immensely popular in the 19th century. They went to many different editions, often with some variations in the contents, the illustrations, the punctuation and the introductions and prefaces.
The various editions of The Ingoldsby Legends were greatly enhanced by illustrations created by a variety of artists.
The Legends were illustrated by some of the biggest names of the day: George Cruickshank, John Leech, John Tenniel and Arthur Rackham all produced pictures for the book.
George Cruikshank illustrated some of the early editions. This is his depiction of the Spectre of Tappington:
