Subject: Folklore, Myths & Legends

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The Ward of King Canute Ottilie A. Liljencrantz

There is an old myth of a hero who renewed his strength each time he touched the earth, and finally was overcome by being raised in the air and crushed. Whether or not the Angles risked a like fate as they raised themselves away from the primitive virtues that had been their life and strength, no one can tell; but i…Read More »
The Story of Grettir the Strong William Morris

A life scarce worth the living, a poor fame Scarce worth the winning, in a wretched land, Where fear and pain go upon either hand, As toward the end men fare without an aim Unto the dull grey dark from whence they came: Let them alone, the unshadowed sheer rocks stand Over the twilight graves of …Read More »
The Vinland Champions Ottilie A. Liljencrantz

It happened first in the history of the New World lands that the Northman Biorn Herjulfsson saw them when he had lost his way in journeying to Greenland. But he lacked the adventuresomeness to go ashore and explore them. Then Leif the Lucky, son of Eric the Red of Greenland, heard of the omission and set out to reme…Read More »
Old Testament Legends M. R. James

This collection is a series of stories not found in the Bible, but found in other works he translated. Among these stories are Adam, about how God showed Adam and Eve how to live outside of Eden, and Solomon and the Demons, the story of how Solomon tamed the demons told from the point of view of the King.
Fantastic Fables Ambrose Bierce

Over 200 fantastic fables from the bitter pen of Ambrose Bierce fill this little volume to overflowing with a rich feast of his misanthropy. Bierce didn't miss a thing—greedy politicians, thieving doctors, not so pious holy men, aldermen, poets, naturalists, poodles, lions, kangaroos, judges, diplomats, legislators—…Read More »
The Thrall of Leif the Lucky Ottilie A. Liljencrantz

Leif Ericsson, also known as 'Leif the Lucky', was the second son of Erik the Red and certainly displayed the Viking spirit of adventure and exploration. As a young man Leif Ericsson visited Norway, where he converted to Christianity. He was charged with returning to Greenland to convert the populace, but instead sa…Read More »
The Demi-Gods James Stephens

In The Demi-Gods, a group of ancient heroes in the form of winged angels show up one night in the camp of the wandering Mac Canns (Patsy, his daughter Mary and their downtrodden donkey). Together the little group wanders around rural Ireland: telling stories, creating mischief and running into some familiar yet ofte…Read More »
The Crock of Gold James Stephens

Pass a pleasant afternoon with this delightful collection of short stories. Simple but not simplistic, these diverting tales are rendered in exquisitely rich and often playful language that will have you lingering over sentences and highlighting your favorite passages so you can revisit them again and again. _The Cr…Read More »
Irish Fairy Tales James Stephens

Take a trip through the rich folklore of Ireland in this enchanting volume from author James Stephens. Fairy kings, femmes fatales, bewitched animals, epic feuds – these action-packed stories traverse a broad spectrum of themes and settings. Folklore fans and readers interested in Gaelic and Celtic culture will app…Read More »
Flower Fables Louisa May Alcott

Flower Fables contains wildly imaginative stories that grew out of Alcott's experience as a storyteller to the children of her Concord, Connecticut, neighbors. Through these enticing encounters with fairies, elves, and animals, the author creates a foundation for young people based on the themes of love, kindness, a…Read More »
Tales of Troy and Greece Andrew Lang

Andrew Lang draws on his classical learning to recount the Homeric legend of the wars between the Greeks and the Trojans. Paris, Helen of Troy, Achilles, Hector, Ulysses, the Amazons and the Wooden Horse all figure in this magical introduction to one of the greatest legends ever told. Superbly illustrated by H. J. F…Read More »
The Little White Bird J. M. Barrie

The Little White Bird is a series of short episodes with tones ranging from fantasy and whimsy to social comedy with dark aggressive undertonesm. It accounts the narrator's day to day activities in London of its day, and fanciful tales set in Kensington Gardens and elsewhere. This book also includes the very first a…Read More »
A House of Pomegranates Oscar Wilde

A House of Pomegranates is a collection of whimisical short stories by Oscar Wilde. This collections includes the following tales: The Young King, The Birthday of the Infanta, The Fisherman and his Soul, and The Star-child. Readers of all ages will be delighted by these fanciful tales.
The Frog Prince Anonymous

The Classic tale of the Frog Prince comes to life as originally published by George Routledge 1874. Included in this book are three books: The Frog Prince, Princess Belle-Etoile and Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp. Includes the original colorful illustrations of characters.
Grimm's Household Tales Brothers Grimm

Included here are fairy tales from "Children's and Household Tales" by the Brothers Grimm, translated by Margaret Hunt. The translation is based on the last edition of the book, featuring 200 fairy tales and 10 children's legends and includes such firm favourites as Rapunzel, The Goose Girl, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel …Read More »
The Lilac Fairy Book Andrew Lang

The twelfth in Andrew Lang's Fairy Book series containing 33 tales from Portugal, Ireland, Wales and points East and West, among them "The Brown Bear of Norway," "The Enchanted Deer," "The Story of a Very Bad Boy," and "The Brownie of the Lake". First published in 1910 and includes 51 illustrations.
The Olive Fairy Book Andrew Lang

The Olive Fairy Book contains eight Punjabi tales, five from Armenia, 16 other stories from Turkey, Denmark, the Sudan, and more. An enchanting world of flying dragons, ogres, fairies, and princes transformed into white foxes with illustrations by H.J. Ford.
The Orange Fairy Book Andrew Lang

In this volume there are stories from the natives of Rhodesia, collected by Mr. Fairbridge, who speaks the native language, and one is brought by Mr. Cripps from another part of Africa, Uganda. Three tales from the Punjaub were collected and translated by Major Campbell. Various savage tales, which needed a good dea…Read More »
The Brown Fairy Book Andrew Lang

The stories in this Fairy Book come from all quarters of the world. For example, the adventures of 'Ball-Carrier and the Bad One' are told by Red Indian grandmothers to Red Indian children who never go to school, nor see pen and ink. 'The Bunyip' is known to even more uneducated little ones, running about with no cl…Read More »
The Crimson Fairy Book Andrew Lang

Each Fairy Book demands a preface from the Editor, and these introductions are inevitably both mono-tonous and unavailing. A sense of literary honesty compels the Editor to keep repeating that he is the Editor, and not the author of the Fairy Tales, just as a distinguished man of science is only the Editor, not the …Read More »
The Violet Fairy Book Andrew Lang

For this collection, Andrew Lang gathered African, Scandinavian, Egyptian and even Babylonian stoires. While they may not be familiar to you, they are an excellent insight into various cultures, to show that despite our skin color, we all share similar belief systems and family values.
The Grey Fairy Book Andrew Lang

These tales are derived from many countries; Lithuania, various parts of Africa, Germany, France, Greece, and other regions of the world. They have been translated and adapted by Mrs. Dent, Mrs. Lang, Miss Eleanor Sellar, Miss Blackley, and Miss Hang. ‘The Three Sons of Hali' is from the last century ‘_Cabinet des…Read More »
The Pink Fairy Book Andrew Lang

For this collection, Andrew Lang gathered Danish, Swedish, Sicilian, African, Catalan, Japanese, German, and French stories. While the stories may not be familiar to you, they are an excellent insight into various cultures, to show that despite our skin color, we all share similar belief systems and family values.
The Yellow Fairy Book Andrew Lang

A collection of traditional fairy tales from the folklore of Russia, Germany, France, Iceland, and America. Includes original 138 black-and-white illustrations. Collected together by Andrew Land they are sourced from a number of different countries and were translated by Lang's wife and other translators who also re…Read More »
The Green Fairy Book Andrew Lang

These collections are specifically intended for children, and consequently edited for that end. When Andrew began publishing these books there were almost no English fairy tale books in circulation. The series proved of great influence in children's literature, and inspired a host of imitators. The series also prove…Read More »
The Red Fairy Book Andrew Lang

In a second gleaning of the fields of Fairy Land we cannot expect to find a second Perrault. But there are good stories enough left, and it is hoped that some in the Red Fairy Book may have the attraction of being less familiar than many of the old friends.
The Lady of the Lake Walter Scott

With buoyant spirit Scott wrote The Lady of the Lake, and its extraordinary success justified his expectations. Scott, in speaking of this poem, says, "_The ancient manners, the habits and customs, of the aboriginal race by whom the Highlands of Scotland were inhabited, had always appeared to me peculiarly adapted…Read More »
The Pied Piper of Hamelin Robert Browning

The town of Hamelin is filled with rats! There are rats in the cupboards, rats in the marketplace, rats in the doghouses, even rats in the pots and pans. The rats are eating all the food, chewing through the houses, and chasing away the cats. The people of Hamelin don't know what to do! Then a mysterious stranger co…Read More »
The Blue Fairy Book Andrew Lang

It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, giants and dwarfs, monsters and magicians, fairies and ogres- these are the companions who thrill young boys and girls of all lands and all times, as Andrew Lang's phenomena…Read More »
Grimms' Fairy Tales Brothers Grimm

Dwarves, giants, princesses, kings, fairies, and magicians … all can be found in the enchanting fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. Sixty-two of the Grimms' best stories are brought to life, from well-known favorites like "Rapunzel," "Red Riding Hood," "Rumpelstiltskin," and "Hansel and Grethel," to lesser-known tr…Read More »