In the capital of the political power of feudal Japan, Kyoto, around 1540, a clan of formidable swordsmen who had previously dedicated themselves to trade and the production of colors for dyeing fabrics began to emerge. However, their exploits as master swordsmen lasted only four generations; they then died out or had to return to their previous economic activities. More than for their skills as instructors of the house of the shogun, they, in fact, went down in history for a number of battles lost against Shinmen Munisai, and his legendary son, Miyamoto Musashi. In the stories passed down to us, truth and myth are blurred, leaving the researcher and the reader with many unanswered questions and doubts. Who were the Yoshioka? When did their exploits as swordsmen begin? Where did their martial art come from? Who were their opponents? Were they really defeated or killed in duels against Miyamoto Musashi?

"East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Old Tales from the North" is a collection of Norwegian folk tales, collected by Peter Christen Asbjornsen and Jorgen Moe in the mid-nineteenth century. The haunting and compelling nature of these folk tales from the frozen lands of the North and the renowned illustrator Kay Nielsen's spellbinding illustrations therefore make this one of the most stunning and beautiful children's books ever produced. Scandinavian folk tales have had many interpretations through the years, but never have they been so beautifully depicted as in this wonderful edition by the Danish illustrator Kay Rasmus Nielsen, the master of Art Nouveau and fantasy and brought to life in this full color and unabridged edition. Nielsen was popular in the early 20th century - the "golden age of illustration" and joined the ranks of Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac in enjoying the success of the gift books of the early 20th century. He is also known for his collaborations with Disney, for whom he contributed many story sketches and illustrations, and especially for his work on this text, lavishing its pages with 25 intricately detailed color and numerous black-and-white images that showcase his unique and otherworldly style and complement these folk tale perfectly.

Blondine, the Pretty Doe and the Gallant Cat is an English translation of the French "Histoire de Blondine, Bonne-Biche e Beau-Minon," published in 1856 as part of the Countess de Segur's "Nouveaux Contes de fees." This fairy tale, delightful for both adults and children, tells the misfortunes of a blonde princess, Blondine, who, having had a difficult time after her father King Benevolent remarried a wicked queen, finds herself lost in an enchanted forest. The story is sad but has a happy ending, and cleverly illustrates moral lessons that can serve as a lesson to us all.

Una nuova, fresca e inedita traduzione della celebre poesia "The Raven" di Edgar Allan Poe con le illustrazioni di Gustave Dore tratte dalla prima pubblicazione. Un'interpretazione moderna ma senza perdere lo stile originale, traducendo con fedelta e con grande attenzione le rime e i suoni, caratteristici della poesia gotica e mistica di Poe. "C'era una volta una mezzanotte desolata, mentre ponderavo, con anima debole e affaticata, Non su pochi fantasiosi e curiosi volumi di saperi dimenticati, Mentre con capo reclino, quasi assopito, d'improvviso vi fu un tocco appena udito, Come di qualcuno che delicatamente bussasse, bussasse alla porta della mia camera. Vi e qualche visitatore, mormorai, che picchia alla porta della mia camera- Questo soltanto, e niente piu."