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There is nothing quite like an illustrated book of fairy tales. Some of these volumes are suitable for children, while others tend towards darkness and nightmares. Edmund Dulac’s illustrations of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales and volumes from other imaginative authors fall somewhere in between.
His illustrations show a dark world of elves and fairies. In Dulac’s imagination, the princess and goddess exist within a tempestuous natural world and the night sky often plays a starring role. Nature is just as much a character as the characters themselves.



Edmund Dulac was born in France but, in his adult life, became a British citizen. After abandoning his study of law, Dulac pursued his career as a book and magazine illustrator and stamp designer. His first assignment was to illustrate the books of the Brontë sisters.
(All roads lead to the Brontës!)
His illustrations are spooky enough to illustrate works by the prince of darkness himself, Edgar Allan Poe.

To Helen by Edgar Allan Poe

With his mature, dark and lovely scenes, Edmund Dulac thwarts the notion that fairy tales are only for children.
Explore Lit Flower’s passion for antique book illustrations!
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