In a Tsar's realm, in a distant land, there once lived Vasilisa the Beautiful, Tsar's son Ivan, the witch Baba Yaga with her house on chicken legs, and the supernatural hero Ilya Muromets. Not only in Russia, but every child knows them: they are part of a long and rich storytelling tradition and have fascinated readers around the world for generations. The Russian fairy tale researcher Alexander N. Afanasyev followed in the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm and compiled the valuable literary heritage of his country, preserving it for future generations. His collection, first published from 1855 to 1863, remains the most widespread and popular collection of Russian fairy tales to this day.