Resumen
Resumen de The Red Fairy Book
Para quién es
Readers who love once upon a time stories, enchanted animals, wicked stepmothers and clever heroes, and anyone who wants a shelf of old tales from many countries to dip into, share aloud or return to.
De qué trata este libro
Imagine a book where every story starts with someone who wants something and a road that leads somewhere strange. The Red Fairy Book gathers thirty-seven folk and fairy tales, put together by the Scottish writer Andrew Lang and published in 1890 for young readers. The tales come from France, Russia, Norway, Germany, Ireland and Flanders, and the last is an old Norse saga. Princesses dance away their nights, an idle boy faces trolls, and a duck wants his money back.
En este resumen
- 1A Cowherd Follows Twelve Dancing PrincessesFree
- 2Towers, Trolls and a Deathless Captor
- 3Cunning Thieves and Cursed Children
- 4Enchanted Husbands, Hidden Monsters and a Magic Tree
- 5Mice, Fairy Gifts and a Calling Voice
- 6Magic Hides, Quacking Creditors and a Piper with a Grudge
- 7Kindness Rewarded, Courtesy Tested
- 8Shape-Shifters, Servants and a Dragonslayer
- 9Kind Hearts, Clever Heads and the Way the Tales Are Told
Idea clave 1 de 9
A Cowherd Follows Twelve Dancing Princesses
The book opens with Michael, a little cowherd with no parents, whom everyone calls the Star Gazer because he walks with his head in the air. A lady in a golden robe appears in his dreams and sends him to the castle of Beloeil.
There twelve princesses sleep in twelve beds behind bolted doors, yet each morning their satin shoes are worn through. The Duke has promised one daughter to whoever solves the puzzle, but every prince who keeps watch has vanished by morning.
Michael becomes the garden boy and tends two laurel trees as the lady instructs. Then he asks to become invisible and follows the sisters down a secret staircase, through woods of silver, gold and diamonds, and across a lake in twelve little boats.
That’s 1 of 9 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
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About this edition
Every format is free to start, and print and large print are at cost.
- LengthAbout 126,000 words
- Reading timeAbout 8 h 25 min
- FormatseBook, large-print eBook, audiobook, 15-minute summary; paperback, hardcover and large print at cost
- LanguagesEnglish and 9 other languages
Questions about The Red Fairy Book
What is The Red Fairy Book about?
It is a collection of thirty-seven folk and fairy tales from France, Russia, Norway, Germany, Ireland, Flanders and the Norse North. They feature princesses, trolls, witches, talking animals, clever thieves and enchanted princes, and finish with the saga of Sigurd.
Who wrote The Red Fairy Book and when was it published?
Andrew Lang, a Scottish writer and folklorist, gathered the tales and published the book in 1890. He did not invent the stories. They come from old oral and written traditions in many countries.
Is Little Golden Hood the same as Little Red Riding Hood?
It is a retelling of the same story with a different outcome. The girl is named Blanchette and wears a golden hood made from a ray of sunshine, which gives her protection, so the tale surprises readers who know the usual version.
Is The Red Fairy Book easy to read?
Yes, because each tale is a self-contained story with a clear hero, a simple goal and plain language. You can read one at a time, and short tales like Drakestail and The Six Fools take only a few minutes.
What is the main message of the tales?
Many tales reward kindness, honesty and courage, especially in the poor or overlooked, while punishing greed and pride. They also celebrate cleverness, loyalty to those who help you, and trying again when a first attempt fails.