Edmund Dulac's Fairy-Book: Fairy Tales of the Allied Nations

"Edmund Dulac's Fairy-Book: Fairy Tales of the Allied Nations" by Edmund Dulac is a collection of fairy tales crafted in the early 20th century. The anthology gathers enchanting stories from various cultures, including Russian, English, Flemish, and Italian, each rich with moral lessons and mythical elements. The tales are beautifully illustrated, showcasing Dulac's distinct artistic style that enhances the magical essence of the narratives. The opening portion of the collection introduces readers to the story of "Snegorotchka," a Russian fairy tale about an elderly couple who long for a child. Their wish is miraculously fulfilled when they create a little girl from snow, named Snegorotchka. As she grows, Snegorotchka embodies the joys of childhood for her adoptive parents until the arrival of spring leads to her tragic transformation, emphasizing themes of longing and the fleeting nature of happiness. The narrative effectively sets the tone for the rest of the collection, blending elements of whimsy and poignancy that are characteristic of fairy tales. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Edmund Dulac was a French-British naturalised magazine illustrator, book illustrator and stamp designer. Born in Toulouse, he studied law but later turned to the study of art at the École des Beaux-Arts. He moved to London early in the 20th century and in 1905 received his first commission to illustrate the novels of the Brontë Sisters. During World War I, Dulac produced relief books. After the war, the deluxe children's book market shrank, and he then turned to magazine illustrations among other ventures. He designed banknotes during World War II and postage stamps, most notably those that heralded the beginning of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.