English Fairy Tales

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

7439

Title

English Fairy Tales

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A vibrant collection of English folk-tales gathered by Joseph Jacobs, featuring clever heroes like Tom Tit Tot and Molly Whuppie who outwit giants and kings. Blending humor, magic, and moral lessons, this anthology offers a timeless glimpse into the folklore of England, Scotland, and Ireland, perfect for reading aloud to children and adults alike.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled by Joseph Jacobs, *English Fairy Tales* presents a rich selection of stories gathered from oral traditions among the working classes, aiming to bridge the cultural gap between the governing and recording classes and the 'dumb' but eloquent working people. Jacobs notes that while few tales explicitly feature fairies, all contain extraordinary elements like giants, dwarfs, or talking animals, justifying the title 'Fairy Tales' as used by children. The collection serves as a bridge between social strata, offering a common fund of nursery literature filled with innocent gaiety. The volume opens with a whimsical guide on how to enter the world of these stories, followed by tales ranging from the humorous adventures of Tom Tit Tot, who uses his small size to solve problems, to the daring exploits of Molly Whuppie. Molly repeatedly escapes a giant's clutches through wit and courage, eventually marrying the king's sons by stealing his treasures. Other narratives include the tragic romance of Childe Rowland, who defeats the King of Elfland to save his family; the magical transformations in 'The Laidly Worm'; and the clever tricks of Johnny-Cake. Jacobs often rewrote dialect-heavy originals into accessible prose while preserving their spirit, noting that many stories were collected during the last decade of his work or were previously unpublished. Some tales trace back to the sixteenth century, with roots found in Shakespeare and Milton. Themes of bravery, cleverness, and the triumph of the underdog run throughout the collection. The stories often feature dramatic power and humor, serving as a 'common form' of English folklore that includes drolls and cante-fables. Jacobs acted on the principle of taking what was good wherever found, including stories from English immigrants in America, Australia, and Lowland Scotch dialects. The book is intended to be read aloud, capturing the colloquial-romantic tone appropriate for such narratives. By rescuing and re-telling these tales, Jacobs sought to add to the national heritage, ensuring that the innocent gaiety of the nation was preserved for future generations.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7439.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg7439.epub

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Categories

• Folklore
• Fairy Tales