★Grimms' fairy tales are familiar to both adults and children, but this edition stands out for its unique artistic style—a perfect fusion of classic fairy tales and modern art by one of the greatest contemporary children's book illustrators, Boris Arkadyevich Diodorov!
★Boris Diodorov created stunning illustrations for 23 classic Grimms' fairy tales in a style reminiscent of antique colored etchings. His masterful etching techniques and delicate artistic style breathe new life into these timeless stories.
★The illustrations not only depict medieval theatrical scenes but also vividly portray the characters—simple, cunning, decisive, or timid—bringing them to life with movement and personality.
★Suitable for children aged 6 and above, as well as book illustration enthusiasts of all ages, this is a rare artistic treasure. Whether as a bedtime story for children or a collector's item for art lovers, it offers endless joy and inspiration.

*Grimms' Fairy Tales* is a perfect blend of classic fairy tales and modern art. While the stories of the Brothers Grimm are familiar to adults and children alike, this edition is truly unique. Boris Arkadyevich Diodorov, one of the most outstanding contemporary children's book illustrators, created illustrations for 23 Grimms' fairy tales in a style resembling antique colored etchings.
Diodorov's artistic process is awe-inspiring. He first draws with black ink on very thick copperplate paper, then uses a scalpel to outline the characters and objects, refining the details. Zinc printing plates are made from these drawings, and the artist then colors the black-and-white prints with watercolors. His illustrations not only depict medieval theatrical scenes but also vividly portray the fairy tale characters—simple, cunning, decisive, or timid—bringing them to life with movement and personality.
Diodorov's illustrations were created specifically for Grigory Petnikov's classic translations, perfectly capturing the nuances of the language. He is not only a keen reader with a deep understanding of the text but also a talented artist, professional book designer, director, screenwriter, and an endless source of creativity. With his perfect grasp of the era and astonishing elegance, Diodorov incorporates three to five fairy tale scenes into a single illustration, as if staging a medieval theatrical performance before our eyes.
This book is published for the first time and is recommended for children aged 6 and above, as well as book illustration enthusiasts of all ages. It is not just a fairy tale book but an artistic treasure worthy of being collected by every family.

【Authors】The Brothers Grimm
Jacob Grimm (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859) were born in Hanau, Hesse-Kassel. They dedicated themselves to collecting and studying folk tales, legends, myths, and other oral literature from various regions of Germany, recording these stories and publishing them as *Grimms' Fairy Tales*. These tales remain some of the most beloved fairy tales worldwide.

【Illustrator】Boris Arkadyevich Diodorov
Boris Arkadyevich Diodorov is an internationally acclaimed Russian illustrator, a People's Artist of Russia, and a winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award. In 2024, he celebrated his 85th birthday. This artistic master has made extraordinary contributions to the field of world literature illustration, earning countless accolades and honors. He is known as the artistic master who weaves fantasy worlds with his brush.
Diodorov's illustrations are renowned for their exquisite and delicate lines. Most of his works are created using etching techniques, where patterns are engraved on metal plates coated with varnish using a steel needle. Though technically challenging, this method achieves unparalleled fineness and lightness in lines—no brush can produce strokes as fine as those made by a needle.
Diodorov has illustrated over 400 books, including many well-known classics. His illustrations for Sergei Aksakov's *The Scarlet Flower*, A.A. Milne's *Winnie-the-Pooh*, Selma Lagerlöf's *The Wonderful Adventures of Nils*, Leo Tolstoy's *Folk Tales*, and Pavel Bazhov's *The Malachite Casket* are beloved by readers. He is particularly famous for his illustrations of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, having illustrated nearly all of Andersen's works published in Russia. Andersen's stories are Diodorov's greatest passion, and his illustrations for classics like *The Little Mermaid*, *Thumbelina*, and *The Snow Queen*—with their emotional depth and unique artistic style—have become iconic in the world of illustration. These books have been published in millions of copies in Russia and abroad.
Diodorov has also illustrated Russian literary classics, including works by Tolstoy, Blok, and Turgenev. His illustrations not only reflect a profound understanding of the original texts but also breathe new life into the words. A Japanese translator of Tolstoy's *Folk Tales* once remarked, "With Diodorov's illustrations, translating Tolstoy's words is no longer necessary." This speaks volumes about the exceptional ability of his illustrations to convey the spirit of literary works.
Diodorov's artistic achievements have been widely recognized. In 1979, his colored etchings (with watercolor and gouache) for Selma Lagerlöf's *The Wonderful Adventures of Nils* won a certificate at the All-Union "Book Art" competition, the "Golden Apple" award at the Bratislava Biennial, and a silver medal at the Leipzig International Book Art Exhibition. In 2001, he received the highest international honor in children's literature—the Hans Christian Andersen Award—presented by the Danish princess in Odense, Denmark. In 2005, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Andersen's birth, Diodorov was appointed "Andersen's Ambassador to Russia" by the Danish royal family and awarded an honorary title. His illustrations have been published in the U.S., France, Spain, Finland, Japan, South Korea, and other countries and are collected by the world's most prestigious museums. His works can be found in the Tretyakov Gallery (Russia), the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Denmark, the Ghibli Museum in Japan, the Slovak National Gallery (Bratislava), and private collections worldwide.
Diodorov's artistic journey began in childhood. His grandfather, the director of the Trekhgornaya Factory, had a vast home library. At the age of four, his grandfather taught him to read and flipped through books with him. His grandfather also taught him to bind worn-out books, helping him gradually build his own library. Diodorov recalled, "I was deeply fascinated by the illustrations in books—they depicted lives far more interesting than anything I had experienced." He excels in various artistic techniques, including copperplate engraving, watercolor, and etching. He firmly believes that "the book itself will suggest which technique to use—I listen to their voices." This profound understanding of books and mastery of artistic techniques infuse his illustrations with vitality and artistic power.
Diodorov's father, Arkady Leonidovich, was a renowned decorative artist who designed the Nakhimov and Ushakov medals. In 2018, Diodorov and his wife, poet Karina Filippova-Diodorova, initiated the creation of the private museum "The Road to Pushkin" in Pogoreloye, using part of the Russian Presidential Prize funds for its construction.
Boris Arkadyevich Diodorov's artistic career is marked by his pursuit of beauty and dedication to art. His illustrations have not only added endless charm to world literary classics but also brought visual and spiritual delight to countless readers. His artistic achievements and love for literature will continue to inspire generations of readers and artists.