William Henry Frost (1863-1902) was a reporter and drama critic for the New York Tribune, which he joined in 1887. He was also the author of four books for children: The Wagner Story Book (1894), The Court of King Arthur (1897), The Knights of the Round Table (1898) and Fairies and Folk of Ireland (1900). All were originally illustrated by his friend Sydney Richmond Burleigh (1853-1931). Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883) was a German composer, conductor, theatre director and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or “music dramas”, as they were later called). Wagner’s compositions, particularly those of his later period, are notable for contrapuntal texture, rich chromaticism, harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate use of leitmotifs: musical themes associated with particular characters, locales or plot elements. Wagner pioneered advances in musical language, such as extreme chromaticism and quickly shifting tonal centres, which greatly influenced the development of European classical music.