The Stealers of Light (1916) – by Queen Marie of Romania, illustrated by Edmund Dulac
This rare and exquisite 1916 edition of The Stealers of Light presents a fairy-tale fantasy penned by Queen Marie of Romania (also known as Carmen Sylva), adorned with the ethereal illustrations of Edmund Dulac. Published by Hodder & Stoughton in London during World War I, the book blends royal literary ambition with high art, as Dulac’s luminous watercolors bring to life the Queen’s allegorical tale of a kingdom plunged into darkness by stolen sunlight. His illustrations—rich in jewel tones and intricate Eastern European folk motifs—capture the story’s mystical atmosphere, from moonlit forests to celestial battles, reflecting both Art Nouveau elegance and the romantic nationalism of Marie’s adopted homeland.
A fusion of royal storytelling and artistic genius, The Stealers of Light is a coveted relic of wartime publishing and a testament to Dulac’s ability to transform words into visual spells.
About the Illustrator
Edmund Dulac (1882–1953) was a French-British artist and one of the giants of the Golden Age of Illustration. Known for his dreamlike, color-saturated style, Dulac rose to fame with Stories from the Arabian Nights (1907) and became a favorite of publishers seeking luxury gift books. His work for The Stealers of Light showcases his mature phase, where his earlier Orientalist flourishes merged with a more symbolic, almost modernist approach. Despite wartime paper shortages, this edition was produced with exceptional care, making it a pinnacle of early 20th-century book arts.
Recommended for Collectors
- The Dreamer of Dreams (1915) by Queen Marie, also illustrated by Dulac – A companion volume of royal fairy tales
- The Kingdom of the Pearl (1920) by Marguerite d’Aincourt, illustrated by Dulac – For another Dulac-illustrated Eastern European fantasy
- The Firebird and Other Russian Fairy Tales (1978) illustrated by Boris Zvorykin – A complementary Slavic-inspired visual feast
Other books illustrated by Edmund Dulac available in our gallery: Stories from the Arabian Nights, Lyrics, Pathetic and Humourous from A to Z, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, The Sleeping Beauty, Stories from Hans Andersen, The Bells, and other poems, Princess Badoura, Sindbad the Sailor and other stories, The Kingdom of the Pearl.
Complete list of books illustrated by Edmund Dulac.
Art Gallery: Edmund Dulac – Stealers of Light 1916
