Author: Hans Christian Andersen
Illustrator: Victor Chizhikov
Year: 1975
Publisher: Malysh
Original title: Ognivo
Andersen’s tale of the soldier, the witch, and the magical tinderbox is one of his earliest works, first published in 1835. Behind its simple plot of greed, chance, and power lies a story about desire and its consequences, about how quickly fortune can turn.
Viktor Chizhikov’s illustrations are full of contrasts: cheerful at first glance, yet threaded with unsettling details. This duality mirrors Andersen’s own narrative, where wonder is never free of danger.
The square format of the book intensifies this impression. Full-page illustrations stand opposite blocks of text, each spread carefully balanced.
