It is no small pleasure to view once again the cool, elegant work of Ben Nicholson. Unlike many of our neon palettes of today, Nicholson's tones were often subtle and delicate, especially in his reliefs. He seldom discussed the subject matter of his works, since it was the process that fascinated him. Lynton describes him as "a child-man, whose best joys and fullest sense of being alive came from his delight in the perfect flight of a ball or a bird."

Nicholson was self-effacing, witty and urbane. His world was one of joy in light and line. Lynton's book beautifully brings us into that world.