Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve (1685 - 1755) was a French novelist who wrote the story La Belle et La Bête (Beauty and the Beast), first published in 1740. Based on a tale that dates back thousands of years, Villeneuve's story is the oldest known written version. It was the length of a novel and after her death in 1755, the story was abridged and rewritten by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.

Beaumont's version was published in 1756 in her Magasin des Enfants, a widely popular publication. She gave no credit to Villeneuve as the author of La Belle et la Bête and so Beaumont is often referred to as the author of this famous fairytale. Her shortened version is the one best known today.

Walter Crane (1845 - 1915) was an English artist and book illustrator and, together with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, was considered to be one of the most influential children's book creators of his generation.

Crane was part of the Arts and Crafts Movement and produced not only paintings and illustrations for children's books, but also ceramic tiles and other decorative arts. From 1859-62 Crane was apprenticed to wood-engraver William James Linton and had the opportunity to study work by many contemporary artists, including Sir John Tenniel, the illustrator of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.