Notable for their magnificent, jewel-like color illustrations by Bilibin, these traditional tales include "The Frog Princess," "Vassilissa the Beautiful," and "The White Duck." Though Russian Fairy Tales in the Pantheon Folklore Library is a book for adults, it has sold over 30,000 copies.

    

    But as Stalin's regime grew increasingly paranoid and repressive, Babel found it difficult to write or publish. The Lonely Years is a collection of letters and nine stories from the period before Babel's arrest and disappearance. Together, they show an individual laboring against all odds to remain true to his craft and ideals. This edition contains a new introduction, based on previously unreleased information from the KGB files.