Fairy Tales of the Peoples of the World

This book contains fairy tales from various peoples of the world. Kind and terrifying, funny and sad, these stories reveal inscrutable mysteries, ancient customs, and true magic. The translations from English were done by Dmitry Mochnev, and the texts of the Russian fairy tales are taken from the collection of the outstanding collector of Russian folklore, Alexander Afanasyev. The fairy tales are illustrated by American masters of book graphics of the 19th–20th centuries – George Carlson, Maurice Day, Rachel Elmer, and other artists.

The culture of each nation is unique and manifests itself in different forms. One of them is oral folk creativity, primarily fairy tales. They capture the beauty of the people's traditions, their beliefs, thoughts, and feelings. For young readers, fairy tales will open the doors to a world of heroes, kings, and magical creatures, while for adults, they will provide a glimpse of how people saw the universe centuries ago. This edition includes fairy tales from different peoples of the world. Among them are Eskimo, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Tibetan, Russian, Swiss, Dutch, Belgian, Irish, and Welsh fairy tales. These are stories with which the modern domestic reader is little familiar. They narrate ancient events, amazing wonders, and true nobility. The book is supplemented by unique illustrations from American artists who worked at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

George Leonard Carlson (1887–1962) is primarily known in the USA as an illustrator of comics and children's books. He created numerous illustrations for various texts, not only of his contemporaries but also of the classics of American literature. However, he gained the most fame for a work written for adults: in 1936 he designed the cover for “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell.

Rachel Robinson Elmer (1878–1919) was born in Vermont to an illustrator and artist. Rachel learned to draw from childhood. After graduating from a private college, she began teaching at an art studio. At the age of twenty, Elmer moved to New York, where she became famous for her postcards. The urban landscapes depicted in her unique style were magnificent. In addition, the artist was engaged in illustrating books and magazines.

Maurice Ellicott Day (1892–1983) was born in Maine. His ancestors had been shipbuilders since the 17th century, but he did not follow in their footsteps – he preferred drawing. Day studied at the Massachusetts College of Art, and after finishing his studies, he began his career as an artist. He collaborated with many magazines, including The Vanity Fair. Day also worked in animation. In 1936, he joined the animation company The Walt Disney Studios and became one of its first and most well-known artists. One of his works was the cartoon “Bambi.” At that time, the artist spent several weeks in the forests of Vermont and Maine: he photographed deer and the wild environment to portray them as accurately as possible in the cartoon.

All three artists share a love for illustration, a commitment to accuracy in details, and impeccable mastery of various drawing techniques. Their works in this edition complement each other concisely and embellish the texts of ancient fairy tales.