Folk tales and legends recorded in the late 18th century. from the words of peasants and artisans in different parts of Germany. The essence of the tales remained unchanged, but in the literary treatment of the writer and storyteller they acquired even greater expressiveness. Johann Karl August Museus (1735–1787), a contemporary of Goethe, Schiller and Lessing, graduated from the University of Jena and taught at a gymnasium in Weimar. In 1762, his novel Grandison the Second or the History of Mr. N. in Letters was published, a parody of numerous works written in the spirit of the sentimental family novel Sir Charles Grandison by the English writer Samuel Richardson. Museus's satire was a success in Europe. Having created a number of satirical works, Museus in the last years of his life was entirely absorbed in collecting works of folk art. The result of this work was the publication of a collection of fairy tales in its literary adaptation. This work of his belongs to the treasures of world literature. The tales are illustrated with wood engravings by R. Jordan, G. Osterwald, L. Richter, A. Schroedter.