Beauty and the Beast: A Fairy Tale by Marie Leprince de Beaumont, Illustrated by Hilary Knight

This is a hardcover children's book featuring the classic fairy tale 'Beauty and the Beast' by Marie Leprince de Beaumont, featuring an afterword by Jean Cocteau and illustrations by the renowned artist Hilary Knight. The cover displays a sophisticated Art Nouveau-inspired aesthetic with a golden-yellow and sage-green color palette. The central illustration depicts Beauty in a flowing pink gown surrounded by pale pink roses, while the Beast looms in the background, uniquely rendered in a foliate, green-man style. Hilary Knight’s signature linear and expressive style—famous for the 'Eloise' series—is clearly evident here. The book appears to be a modern edition, likely from the late 20th century (circa 1990), published by Simon & Schuster or a similar imprint. The physical condition appears excellent from the front cover view, showing sharp corners, no visible fraying on the cloth or paper binding, and vibrant, unfaded colors. The typography is elegant, using a gold-toned serif font that complements the intricate background patterns. This edition is particularly collectible due to the high-quality craftsmanship of Knight's artistic interpretation and the inclusion of Cocteau’s historical perspective.