Wilhelm Hauff (1802–1827) was a German Romantic writer whose name is firmly linked to the history of world literature thanks to his fairy tales. Born in Stuttgart, he studied at the University of Tübingen, worked as a tutor, and then as the editor of a Stuttgart morning newspaper. His literary life was short: in November 1827, at just twenty-five years old, he died of a fever. However, within a few years of writing, Hauff managed to create works that outlived their author and became classics.

A special place in his legacy belongs to the three "Fairy Tale Almanacs," published between 1826 and 1828. These collections, in which fantastical motifs are intertwined with folk wisdom and vivid imagery, immediately made his name famous. In Hauff's fairy tales, the East is presented as an enchanting world of palaces, caravans, and ancient customs, and Germany as his native land with its nature and everyday life. The stories are filled with adventure, wonder, and morality, making them equally captivating for both children and adults.

Of particular importance is the classic translation by N. A. Polevoy, thanks to which Hauff's tales have been read in Russian for generations and are considered part of the golden age of world literature.

This edition includes Wilhelm Hauff's finest tales—works that, even after two centuries, continue to captivate, educate, and spark the imagination.