“It is indeed gone,” Murmured King Honey Magnet

“It is indeed gone,” murmured King Honey to himself, who, as usual, was fluttering there among the branches of the wonder tree. Illustration from A Csudafa (The Wonder Tree), published in Budapest 1924. A csudafa is a collection of Hungarian folk and fairy tales by Elek Benedek, one of Hungary’s most beloved storytellers. The stories draw on traditional folklore, blending moral lessons, magical elements, and imaginative storytelling rooted in rural Hungarian culture. Written for children but rich enough for all ages, the tales reflect themes of kindness, cleverness, resilience, and wonder. The book stands as a classic example of early 20th-century Central European fairy-tale literature. About the Illustrator – Álmos Jaschik (1885–1950) Álmos Jaschik was a Hungarian graphic artist, painter, and book illustrator known for his decorative, finely detailed style influenced by Art Nouveau and early modern design. He worked extensively in illustration, stage design, and graphic arts, and was also an influential teacher who founded his own art school in Budapest. Jaschik’s illustrations often combine flowing lines, folkloric motifs, and a strong sense of atmosphere, making his work especially well suited to fairy tales and myth-inspired stories such as A csudafa.