Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #668904 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 300 pages

Synopsis
Who says that English folk have no fairy tales of their own? The present volume contains only a selection out of some 140, of which I have found traces in this country. It is probable that many more exist.A quarter of the tales in this volume have been collected during the last ten years or so, and some of them have not been hitherto published. Up to 1870, it was said equally of France and of Italy, that they possessed no folk-tales. Yet, within fifteen years from that date, over looo tales had been collected in each country. I am hoping that the present volume may lead to equal activity in this country, and would earnestly beg any reader of this book who knows of similar tales, to communicate them, written down as they are told, to me, care of the Publishers. The only reason, I imagine, why such tales have not hitherto been brought to light, is the lamentable gap between the governing and recording classes and the dumb working classes of this country-dumb to others but eloquent among themselves.

Customer Reviews

One of the best fairy tale collections
This delightful collection of stories includes many of the best-known English folk and fairy tales, including Jack and the Beanstalk, Tom Thumb, Dick Whittington, and The Three Bears. It also includes many lesser-known tales that are equally delightful. Some of my favourites are stories that feature adventurous and enterprising heroines, like Kate Crackernuts, Molly Whuppie, Cap o Rushes, Tamlane, and Mr Fox. The stories are narrated in a cheerful, simple style that make them very easy to read. My seven-year-old son absolutely loves the stories in this book (he is particularly fond of the preposterous story The Three Sillies, and the scary Mr Miacca). This collection should appeal to anyone with imagination.

A dreaming book
This is a beautiful series of stories that makes you come back baby.There is heroism in the characters, in their continual choice to keep dreaming of and trying for a better way of life,there is also cunning, wiliness, intelligence, and many times the naivety that makes it a bit silly. I teach English to children in an Italian school and I found this book a valuable aid for my job.