Between 1794, when he was 19, and his death at the age of 75 in 1851, Turner was involved in the production of over 800 prints based on his paintings, watercolours and drawings. The object of Turner Prints is to survey this corpus of graphic work and to place it in the context of Turner's art as a whole. The book provides ample evidence for the author's claim that the 'prints with which Turner was involved for over half a century must be considered as one of the major factors of his long working life'.

The eight chapters into which the book is divided provide a broadly chronological survey of Turner's engraved work, ranging from the early topographical engravings of the 1790s to the marvellous copper and steel plates of his final years. One chapter is devoted to the Liber Studiorum, the most important of all Turner's printmaking ventures, and one to the later mezzotints. Two more deal with the topographical and illustrative steel engravings of the later 1820s and 30s, which formed the basis of his international reputation in the last years of his life. Another chapter discusses the great topographical series, such as Picturesque Views in England and Wales, in which Turner made his most influential contributions to the development of British engraving.

Each chapter is fully illustrated, and great pains have been taken to achieve the highest quality of reproduction in the plates. The book includes two appendices, providing lists of all the engravings based on those in the relevant catalogues of W G Rawlinson and A J Finberg, a biographical outline and a glossary of Printmaking Terms. The first modern book devoted exclusively to its subject, Turner Prints will be essential reading for all those interested in the art and life of England's most popular artist.