Often unjustly labeled as 'gloomy', Wilhelm Hauff's "The Cold Heart" is one of the great literary creations of German High Romanticism. The story of the poor charcoal burner Peter Munk, who sells his soul to evil and only discovers the true values of life and love through drastic strokes of fate, is truly Faustian material. The high artistry of illustration by Maren Briswalter lovingly reveals the hidden beauties of this parable. The retold text makes the story easily accessible to younger children as well.