Wilhelm Hauff (1802–1827) — a German writer and novelist, best known for his extraordinary fairy tales, full of adventures and wonders. Wilhelm was born in Stuttgart, in the family of a secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was the second of four children. The boy's father died early, so Wilhelm spent his youth in the house of his maternal grandfather. There he became fond of reading books from his grandfather's library — thus began the literary journey of the future writer. When the young man turned sixteen, he went to study at a boarding school. After finishing it, Wilhelm entered Tübingen University — from there he graduated with a doctorate in philosophy and theology. After completing his studies, Hauff was offered by General Ernst von Hegel to become a tutor for his children. It was for them that Hauff began to compose his first fairy tales, among which were "Little Muck", "Kalif Stork", "The Phantom Ship", and others. These tales were published in 1826 in the "Almanac of Tales for the Sons and Daughters of the Nobility" — their publication brought Hauff fame, and he continued to develop in this direction. As a tutor, Wilhelm traveled a lot around Europe with the von Hegel family — during these trips, the writer collected material for his new works. In his short but bright life, Hauff wrote not only a number of fairy tales. He also produced novels, stories, and even satirical works, and in 1827 he became the editor of the "Stuttgart Newspaper". Hauff's work resonated in the hearts of readers even after the writer's death. Hauff's historical novel "Lichtenstein" inspired one of his admirers to rebuild the Lichtenstein castle in the town of Honau in Germany, as it had turned into ruins long before the time of writing the novel. Hauff's literary legacy is vast, and part of his works is presented in this edition. The book introduces readers to the enchanting stories of the famous storyteller, brought to life by the wonderful illustrations of artists from bygone years. The romantic and mysterious spirit of the tales is conveyed through decorative elements, initials, color and black-and-white illustrations by artists such as Waldemar Friedrich, Robert Leinweber, G. Schmidt-Pecht, F. Schmoranц, Walter Zweigle, Fritz Bergen, and Forster Robson. The drawings of these masters perfectly reflect the melancholy, fantasy, and charm inherent in Hauff's tales.
