Lynd Ward studied theory of design, art history and teaching methods at Columbia University. He spent a year at the State Academy for Graphic Arts in Leipzig, Germany studying with Hans Mueller, Alois Kolp and George Mathey. He illustrated many of the classics published by the Limited Editons and Heritage Book Clubs. His prominence as a woodcut artist came with his woodcut novel God's Man followed by Mad Man's Drum, Sons Without Words and Vertigo. He was a member of the Society of Illustrators and The Society of American Graphic Arts. He won many awards including the Caldecott Medal, the Library of Congress Award and the Limited Editions Club SIlver Medal. He retired in 1974.