"The Yellow Book" owed much of its reputation to Aubrey Beardsley, who, despite John Lane's remonstrations, repeatedly attempted to shock public opinion. Lane would painstakingly peruse Beardsley's drawings before each publication as Beardsley was known for hiding inappropriate details in his work. Throughout Beardsley's contribution to "The Yellow Book", the two were caught in a game of hide-and-seek. Lane's scrutiny of Beardsley's drawings suggests that he wished "The Yellow Book" to be a publication only slightly associated with the Decadence's shocking aesthetic. Indeed, Lane continually emphasized that he desired the work to be suitable reading material for any audience.