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Swedish Folk Tales
John Bauer's original, evocative illustrations bring these classic Swedish folk tales to life. This collection includes Elsa Beskow's "When Mother Troll Took in the King's Washing"; "The Magician's Cape" by Anna Wahlenberg; "The Seven Wishes" by Alfred Smedberg; "The Ring" by Helena Nyblom; "Stalo and Kauras" by PA. Lindholm; and "The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds" by Harald Ostenson.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
75 people are currently reading
1552 people want to read
About the author
John Bauer
54 books42 followersJohn Bauer (June 4, 1882 – November 20, 1918) was a Swedish painter and illustrator best known for his illustrations of Bland tomtar och troll (Among Gnomes and Trolls). Princess Tuvstarr and the Fishpond (named after Carex cespitosa), painted in 1913, is perhaps Bauer's most notable work.
John Bauer was born and raised in Jönköping with his two brothers and sister, Anna Bauer, whose early death at 13 had a profound effect on John and his brothers. Living in an apartment situated above their father's charcuterie, he was always given to sketching and drawing. At sixteen, he set off for Stockholm to study art, and after two years he entered the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts.[2]
At the academy he met Esther Ellquist, whom he would marry in December 1906. Together they embarked on a two-year long trip to Germany and Italy to study art (1908-1910). Bauer's wife became the model for many of Bauer's paintings, most notably The Fairy Princess in 1905.
Bauer suffered from depression and self-doubts. By 1918 his marriage was falling apart, divorce was being discussed, and the world was at war. John and Esther, and their two-year old son, Bengt or Putte, were on their way to a new home in Stockholm, where John hoped for spiritual renewal and a new life for himself and his family. In the wake of the recent well-publicized train accident of Getå, John booked their return to Stockholm on a ferry, the Per Brahe steamer. John Bauer died in the shipwreck of Per Brahe along with Ester and Bengt.
Bauer's early work was influenced to a large extent by Albert Engström and Carl Larsson, two contemporaries and influential painters. Bauer's first major work was commissioned in 1904, when he was asked to illustrate a book on Lappland. It was not until 1907 that he would become known for his illustrations of Bland tomtar och troll, the yearly fairy tale book, in which his most highly acclaimed works would be published in the 1912-1915 editions.
Bauer also produced a fresco, Den helige Martin (The Holy Martin), which can be seen in the Odd Fellows lodge in Nyköping. Bauer's themes can be found in later works by the illustrators Arthur Rackham, Sulamith Wülfing, Kay Nielsen, Brian Froud and Rebecca Guay.
Modern day influence
* On the 100-year anniversary of the birth of John Bauer, the Swedish postal service made three, and later in 1997 four stamps with motifs from Bland tomtar och troll.
* A Scandinavian franchise of private schools has derived its name and some themes from John Bauer, naming its classes after his characters, for example.
* He is mentioned in Neil Gaiman’s comic book series The Sandman.
* The visual look of the motion picture The Dark Crystal, by Jim Henson and Frank Oz was inspired by the art of John Bauer.
* Norwegian Artist Mortiis uses the art of John Bauer on his Ambient albums.
John Bauer was born and raised in Jönköping with his two brothers and sister, Anna Bauer, whose early death at 13 had a profound effect on John and his brothers. Living in an apartment situated above their father's charcuterie, he was always given to sketching and drawing. At sixteen, he set off for Stockholm to study art, and after two years he entered the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts.[2]
At the academy he met Esther Ellquist, whom he would marry in December 1906. Together they embarked on a two-year long trip to Germany and Italy to study art (1908-1910). Bauer's wife became the model for many of Bauer's paintings, most notably The Fairy Princess in 1905.
Bauer suffered from depression and self-doubts. By 1918 his marriage was falling apart, divorce was being discussed, and the world was at war. John and Esther, and their two-year old son, Bengt or Putte, were on their way to a new home in Stockholm, where John hoped for spiritual renewal and a new life for himself and his family. In the wake of the recent well-publicized train accident of Getå, John booked their return to Stockholm on a ferry, the Per Brahe steamer. John Bauer died in the shipwreck of Per Brahe along with Ester and Bengt.
Bauer's early work was influenced to a large extent by Albert Engström and Carl Larsson, two contemporaries and influential painters. Bauer's first major work was commissioned in 1904, when he was asked to illustrate a book on Lappland. It was not until 1907 that he would become known for his illustrations of Bland tomtar och troll, the yearly fairy tale book, in which his most highly acclaimed works would be published in the 1912-1915 editions.
Bauer also produced a fresco, Den helige Martin (The Holy Martin), which can be seen in the Odd Fellows lodge in Nyköping. Bauer's themes can be found in later works by the illustrators Arthur Rackham, Sulamith Wülfing, Kay Nielsen, Brian Froud and Rebecca Guay.
Modern day influence
* On the 100-year anniversary of the birth of John Bauer, the Swedish postal service made three, and later in 1997 four stamps with motifs from Bland tomtar och troll.
* A Scandinavian franchise of private schools has derived its name and some themes from John Bauer, naming its classes after his characters, for example.
* He is mentioned in Neil Gaiman’s comic book series The Sandman.
* The visual look of the motion picture The Dark Crystal, by Jim Henson and Frank Oz was inspired by the art of John Bauer.
* Norwegian Artist Mortiis uses the art of John Bauer on his Ambient albums.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
December 12, 2019
An Illustrated Treasury of Swedish Folk Tales and Fairy Tales, As the title suggests, this book is a treasure trove of folk and fairy tales from Sweden, illustrated by acclaimed artist John Bauer. From Trolls to Tomtes (elves), from brave kings and princesses, the book features twenty-three classic stories, full of adventure and magic, written by well-known authors such as Elsa Beskow and Anna Wahlenberg among others.
If you enjoyed reading the Grimm fairytales, you will certainly love these Swedish tales. Unlike Grimm fairytales, which feature witches, fairies and lost children, these Swedish fairy tales present a different flavor. There are not many fairies or magic but there are many Trolls, Tomtes, princesses, gnomes, and forests. These stories of bravery and sacrifice told with a lot of humor and sensitivity. Even in translation, the stories come through marvelously well and there is always a nice message in the end.
Each story features one or more illustrations by John Bauer. John Bauer’s drawings truly bring the stories alive; each capturing the mood and essence of the story perfectly. The book also contains the wonderfully illustrated biography of Bauer, celebrating his work and life which was not less than a fairy tale. This book offers the reader a look into Swedish folklore and will encourage readers to explore more. Though all stories are good, my personal favorites include the stories of the 4 big trolls, Changelings, Dag & Daga, The Ring and Prince without a shadow.
Overall, for all those interested in Swedish folklore and legends and for anybody who loves fairy tales, this book is a great read. This book is highly recommended not just for kids but adults as well!
Many thanks to the publishers Floris Books & Ingram Publisher Services and Edelweiss for the ARC.
If you enjoyed reading the Grimm fairytales, you will certainly love these Swedish tales. Unlike Grimm fairytales, which feature witches, fairies and lost children, these Swedish fairy tales present a different flavor. There are not many fairies or magic but there are many Trolls, Tomtes, princesses, gnomes, and forests. These stories of bravery and sacrifice told with a lot of humor and sensitivity. Even in translation, the stories come through marvelously well and there is always a nice message in the end.
Each story features one or more illustrations by John Bauer. John Bauer’s drawings truly bring the stories alive; each capturing the mood and essence of the story perfectly. The book also contains the wonderfully illustrated biography of Bauer, celebrating his work and life which was not less than a fairy tale. This book offers the reader a look into Swedish folklore and will encourage readers to explore more. Though all stories are good, my personal favorites include the stories of the 4 big trolls, Changelings, Dag & Daga, The Ring and Prince without a shadow.
Overall, for all those interested in Swedish folklore and legends and for anybody who loves fairy tales, this book is a great read. This book is highly recommended not just for kids but adults as well!
Many thanks to the publishers Floris Books & Ingram Publisher Services and Edelweiss for the ARC.
February 6, 2022
After reading Great Swedish Fairy Tales I pulled this book from my bookshelf to keep up my momentum and read even more Swedish fairytales. However I discovered that the two books are somewhat similar. Both this book and the 1973 edition took the approach to select popular Swedish tales for children where they could showcase the artwork of the incredibly gifted, John Bauer. Stories omitted from this newer (originally published 2004) edition that were included in the 1973 book were: 1)The Seven Wishes, 2)The Magpie with Salt on Her Tail, 3)Stalo and Kauras and 4)The Flower of Happiness on Sunnymount Crest. However five additional tales that were not included in “Great Swedish Tales” but have been included in the new edition are: 1)The Crofters and the Gnomes, 2)Bella’s Glorious Adventure 3)The Golden Key, 4)The Queen’s Pearl Necklace and 5)The Prince Without a Shadow.
Now after reading both collections I have to say that I prefer this newer edition and here’s why:
The addition of the five new stories were outstanding selections and were a great improvement in the overall fantasy tone of the collection. The size of the book is much larger with improved paper quality and brightness which significantly improved the pleasure of viewing Bauer’s otherworldly artwork. And speaking of artwork, this new version has significantly MORE color plates and b/w pen and ink drawings included in the collection to enjoy. Also the book opens with a brief biography of John Bauer and concludes with an “About the Authors” page that has a very brief bio for each of the contributors, which I found to be a very nice and important addition.
The only drawback to this volume is that no mention is made on the translation. Whereas in the 1973 book, the translation was provided by Holger Lundbergh the grandson of Helena Nyblom one of the contributors to the volume.
This lovely book is highly recommended for those who love Golden-Age fairytale illustrations and illustrators, John Bauer fans, Folklore and Fairytales enthusiasts and for all us who still believe in magic and wonder and refuse to grow up.
Now after reading both collections I have to say that I prefer this newer edition and here’s why:
The addition of the five new stories were outstanding selections and were a great improvement in the overall fantasy tone of the collection. The size of the book is much larger with improved paper quality and brightness which significantly improved the pleasure of viewing Bauer’s otherworldly artwork. And speaking of artwork, this new version has significantly MORE color plates and b/w pen and ink drawings included in the collection to enjoy. Also the book opens with a brief biography of John Bauer and concludes with an “About the Authors” page that has a very brief bio for each of the contributors, which I found to be a very nice and important addition.
The only drawback to this volume is that no mention is made on the translation. Whereas in the 1973 book, the translation was provided by Holger Lundbergh the grandson of Helena Nyblom one of the contributors to the volume.
This lovely book is highly recommended for those who love Golden-Age fairytale illustrations and illustrators, John Bauer fans, Folklore and Fairytales enthusiasts and for all us who still believe in magic and wonder and refuse to grow up.
June 2, 2019
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review (Thank you!)
Dark fairytales wonderfully illustrated. I'll definitely purchase the hardback edition because unfortunately, the only complaint I have about the ebook is that the illustrations are too small.
Trolls, princesses, gnomes and forests. Bauer's illustrations are unique and the stories are well written.
These are Swedish tales so you probably never heard of them but they're worth reading and they should be a must to Grimm fans.
If you enjoy folklore and fairytales that remind you of Grimm, you will certainly love these Swedish tales.
Dark fairytales wonderfully illustrated. I'll definitely purchase the hardback edition because unfortunately, the only complaint I have about the ebook is that the illustrations are too small.
Trolls, princesses, gnomes and forests. Bauer's illustrations are unique and the stories are well written.
These are Swedish tales so you probably never heard of them but they're worth reading and they should be a must to Grimm fans.
If you enjoy folklore and fairytales that remind you of Grimm, you will certainly love these Swedish tales.
February 14, 2013
What an incredibly sumptuous, beautiful book. The illustrations are touchingly lovely, especially those of the trolls. And the stories themselves are retold wonderfully well, with humor, poignancy and sensitivity. Even in translation, the stories come through marvelously well. This book is a real treasure, one to cherish and share for years to come.
January 5, 2017
I am a collector of fairy tales, and this is a lovely sumptuous book, illustrated by the incomparable John Bauer. And the Swedish tales are truly delightful - one of the best bodies of national folk lore I've had the privilege of reading. I'll be rooting around in this book for a long time, laughing with delight and wonder.
January 18, 2022
Why I read it: It was a gift from a friend who lives in Sweden.
What I liked about it:
I was surprised by how much I liked it. Nordic fairy tales seem to describe exactly the world to which I want to escape from reality: ‘All this happened long, long ago, when there were trolls in the dark mountains and the big dusky forests. Each cave on a craggy mountainside, each hollow under the snakelike roots of giant trees, had its own troll living there’. The world in which the magical is intertwined with the mundane.
I read one fairy tale most evening before bed, for few weeks. And I loved that! It really helped me to let go of all the stress and work related thoughts. Bedtime stories should be for everyone and not just kids!
A huge added benefit was that the book is dedicated to John Bauer’s art. His style is really unique. And it was really nice to learn something about the artist. Although it is always sad to hear someone this talented died young (age 36).
What I liked about it:
I was surprised by how much I liked it. Nordic fairy tales seem to describe exactly the world to which I want to escape from reality: ‘All this happened long, long ago, when there were trolls in the dark mountains and the big dusky forests. Each cave on a craggy mountainside, each hollow under the snakelike roots of giant trees, had its own troll living there’. The world in which the magical is intertwined with the mundane.
I read one fairy tale most evening before bed, for few weeks. And I loved that! It really helped me to let go of all the stress and work related thoughts. Bedtime stories should be for everyone and not just kids!
A huge added benefit was that the book is dedicated to John Bauer’s art. His style is really unique. And it was really nice to learn something about the artist. Although it is always sad to hear someone this talented died young (age 36).
November 6, 2019
A gorgeous tome containing twenty-nine enchanting, fantastical, and mesmerizing folk and fairy tales, Swedish Folk Tales most certainly delivers what it advertises. The stories were written by several different authors (Anna Wahlenberg being the most featured one), and illustrated by famous Swedish artist John Bauer.
John Bauer’s drawings truly bring the stories alive, as he has the ability to depict both the captivating beauty and strange horror of all the personages and creatures inhabiting the Swedish folk tales and legends that are described in this storybook. His illustrations are one of the most defining aspects of Swedish fairy tales in general, and form the heart of Swedish Folk Tales as well, and rightly so. It gives the reader a nice look into Bauer’s illustrative collection.
Prominently featured in these tales are trolls, unsuspecting poor youths, changelings, lovely princesses, gnomes, brave heroes, creatures of the sea, rich kings and queens, treasure, and lots and lots of mountains. This book offers the reader a look into Swedish folklore that goes deeper than just the surface, and is a prime example of the most famous tales available. My personal favourite is The Prince Without A Shadow, by Jeanna Oterdahl.
For those of you looking for a bit more information on the authors of the tales, Swedish Folk Tales features stories by Elsa Beskow, Anna Wahlenberg, Alfred Smedberg, Helge Kjellin, Cyrus Granér, Helena Nyblom, P.A. Lindholm, Jeanna Oterdahl, Walter Strenström, Harald Östenson, W.E. Björk, and Einar Rosenborg.
Recommended for those interested in Swedish folklore and legends, and wish to read a few prime examples of it, and for anybody who loves fairy tales. This book will be a very proper addition to your collection.
John Bauer’s drawings truly bring the stories alive, as he has the ability to depict both the captivating beauty and strange horror of all the personages and creatures inhabiting the Swedish folk tales and legends that are described in this storybook. His illustrations are one of the most defining aspects of Swedish fairy tales in general, and form the heart of Swedish Folk Tales as well, and rightly so. It gives the reader a nice look into Bauer’s illustrative collection.
Prominently featured in these tales are trolls, unsuspecting poor youths, changelings, lovely princesses, gnomes, brave heroes, creatures of the sea, rich kings and queens, treasure, and lots and lots of mountains. This book offers the reader a look into Swedish folklore that goes deeper than just the surface, and is a prime example of the most famous tales available. My personal favourite is The Prince Without A Shadow, by Jeanna Oterdahl.
For those of you looking for a bit more information on the authors of the tales, Swedish Folk Tales features stories by Elsa Beskow, Anna Wahlenberg, Alfred Smedberg, Helge Kjellin, Cyrus Granér, Helena Nyblom, P.A. Lindholm, Jeanna Oterdahl, Walter Strenström, Harald Östenson, W.E. Björk, and Einar Rosenborg.
Recommended for those interested in Swedish folklore and legends, and wish to read a few prime examples of it, and for anybody who loves fairy tales. This book will be a very proper addition to your collection.
December 5, 2009
I found this book through betterworldbooks.com. I love John Bauer, and have admired many of these illustrations for years without realizing that they were illustrations of actual stories. I'm trying to draw my reading out by reading one story a day. I am in love with this book.
March 31, 2017
En av mina absoluta favoritartister, bara bläddrat igenom för att se bilderna men de är fantastiska!
May 14, 2020
This one is a 3.5, almost a 4, for me, and I confess to being charmed by all 22 of the stories in this collection. The book jacket declares the accompanying artwork to be sumptuous, and I would not dispute that. The details in those images of trolls, tomtes, princesses, and various animals are simply splendid and exquisitely rendered. In fact, readers will become confused that these creatures must have existed at some time as they peruse the illustrations. There isn't a weak story in this collection of Swedish folk tales and fairy tales from nine different authors, and readers will enjoy identifying some of the common threads in the stories and seeing how gullible and greedy some humans are as well as how there are occasions when even trolls or fearful kings can have their hearts softened by kindness and/or innocence. The ideals of noble self-sacrifice and loyalty are presented in many of the tales, all serving as good examples for many of us today. Many of the stories made me smile while others brought a tear to my eye, and once again, I found myself grateful to the publisher for keeping these stories alive by presenting them to a new audience. My only critical comment would be to have a list of terms and their meaning in the back matter since some of the stories, written several decades ago, contain vocabulary with which many readers will be unfamiliar.
August 25, 2018
I've been reading this book for a couple of months. The folk tales were great but the illustrations by John Bauer were just wonderful.
December 27, 2021
Utterly enchanting tales made even lovelier and poignant by Bauer’s illustrations. Looking forward to sharing these with my children.
March 9, 2017
I read these stories over the course of a few months. The book was a generous early birthday gift, and it was on my wishlist because it was beautifully illustrated by John Bauer.
Bauer's influence is clearly seen in the gorgeous work of Brian Froud, the reknowned illustrator who worked with Henson on Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal.... can you tell I'm an 80's kid?
Anyway, back to Bauer. His prodigious talent shines through every work of art featured in this collection. They're not mere illustrations. They capture the magic and melancholy and melody that weaves through each story. Whether it's a shimmering princess, a little tomte (gnome), a bravehearted boy, a Troll, a changeling, a knight or a queen, the figures are luminous against the darkness of the forest and mountains.
The stories themselves are also enchanting. Some resonated more than others; some were quite sad, but generally, these Swedish faery tales are like Western ones and good triumphs in the end. The bad guys are tricked, or tamed, the lovers reunite, and the quest comes to fruition. I highly recommend this exquisite book.
Bauer's influence is clearly seen in the gorgeous work of Brian Froud, the reknowned illustrator who worked with Henson on Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal.... can you tell I'm an 80's kid?
Anyway, back to Bauer. His prodigious talent shines through every work of art featured in this collection. They're not mere illustrations. They capture the magic and melancholy and melody that weaves through each story. Whether it's a shimmering princess, a little tomte (gnome), a bravehearted boy, a Troll, a changeling, a knight or a queen, the figures are luminous against the darkness of the forest and mountains.
The stories themselves are also enchanting. Some resonated more than others; some were quite sad, but generally, these Swedish faery tales are like Western ones and good triumphs in the end. The bad guys are tricked, or tamed, the lovers reunite, and the quest comes to fruition. I highly recommend this exquisite book.
February 11, 2022
This is a collection of Swedish/Scandinavian folk and fairy tales, illustrated by John Bauer.
The stories in this book are:
* "When Mother Troll Took in the King's Washing"
* "The Trolls and the Youngest Tomte"
* "The Troll Ride"
* "The Four Big Trolls and Little Peter Pastureman"
* "The Crofters and the Gnomes"
* "The Old Troll of Big Mountain"
* "The Changelings"
* "The Boy and the Trolls, or the Adventure"
* "The Barrel Stopper"
* "Bella’s Glorious Adventure"
* "The Magician's Cape"
* "Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain"
* "The Boy Who Was Never Afraid"
* "The Golden Key"
* "Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass"
* "The Ring"
* "The King's Choice"
* "The Queen’s Pearl Necklace"
* "The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds"
* "Linda-Gold and the Old King"
* "The Prince Without a Shadow"
* "The Queen"
This collection has most of the same stories as Swedish Fairy Tales.
Stories included in Swedish Fairy Tales but not included in this book are:
* "The Seven Wishes"
* "The Magpie with Salt on Her Tail"
* "Stalo and Kaurus"
* "The Flower of Happiness on Sunnymount Crest"
Stories not included in Swedish Fairy Tales that are included in this book are:
* "The Crofters and the Gnomes"
* "Bella’s Glorious Adventure"
* "The Golden Key"
* "The Queen’s Pearl Necklace"
* "The Prince Without a Shadow"
Likewise, the art included in this book is almost the same as the art in Swedish Fairy Tales, but there are a few additions and omissions.
This book also contains a short biography of artist John Bauer and brief biographical information about the translators.
The stories in this book are:
* "When Mother Troll Took in the King's Washing"
* "The Trolls and the Youngest Tomte"
* "The Troll Ride"
* "The Four Big Trolls and Little Peter Pastureman"
* "The Crofters and the Gnomes"
* "The Old Troll of Big Mountain"
* "The Changelings"
* "The Boy and the Trolls, or the Adventure"
* "The Barrel Stopper"
* "Bella’s Glorious Adventure"
* "The Magician's Cape"
* "Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain"
* "The Boy Who Was Never Afraid"
* "The Golden Key"
* "Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass"
* "The Ring"
* "The King's Choice"
* "The Queen’s Pearl Necklace"
* "The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds"
* "Linda-Gold and the Old King"
* "The Prince Without a Shadow"
* "The Queen"
This collection has most of the same stories as Swedish Fairy Tales.
Stories included in Swedish Fairy Tales but not included in this book are:
* "The Seven Wishes"
* "The Magpie with Salt on Her Tail"
* "Stalo and Kaurus"
* "The Flower of Happiness on Sunnymount Crest"
Stories not included in Swedish Fairy Tales that are included in this book are:
* "The Crofters and the Gnomes"
* "Bella’s Glorious Adventure"
* "The Golden Key"
* "The Queen’s Pearl Necklace"
* "The Prince Without a Shadow"
Likewise, the art included in this book is almost the same as the art in Swedish Fairy Tales, but there are a few additions and omissions.
This book also contains a short biography of artist John Bauer and brief biographical information about the translators.
September 23, 2023
Jag älskar John Bauers bilder, och vissa av sagorna är helt fantastiska. Till mina favoriter hör Sagan om de fyra stortrollen och lille Vill-Vallareman, Ringen, och Pojken, trollen och äventyret (den sistnämna har jag älskat sedan jag var barn).
Några andra av dem är tyvärr ganska mediokra, och det drar ner betyget. Mest besviken blev jag nog på Sagan om älgtjuren Skutt och lilla prinsessan Tuvstarr. Jag älskar verkligen Bauers klassiska bild från den och har den på väggen hemma (originalet hänger f.ö. på Malmö museum). Men sagan är bara konstig och osammanhängande och ologisk. Jag kommer att bli påminnd om det varje gång jag ser bilden nu (tack som fan för det). Lyd mitt råd här: njut av bilden, men bläddra förbi resten av sagan.
Några andra av dem är tyvärr ganska mediokra, och det drar ner betyget. Mest besviken blev jag nog på Sagan om älgtjuren Skutt och lilla prinsessan Tuvstarr. Jag älskar verkligen Bauers klassiska bild från den och har den på väggen hemma (originalet hänger f.ö. på Malmö museum). Men sagan är bara konstig och osammanhängande och ologisk. Jag kommer att bli påminnd om det varje gång jag ser bilden nu (tack som fan för det). Lyd mitt råd här: njut av bilden, men bläddra förbi resten av sagan.
March 24, 2014
The illustrations are so beautiful! Even if they don;t always match up with the part of the story being told. It must have been incredibly difficult to fit in, given the fact that it's an amalgamation of different books. The stories were quite adorable, and well told - right pacing, and not too much description, and it is a wonderful book. The story of Agneta and the Sea King is particularly enchanting, and stood out right away just from the drawings.
May 29, 2010
This book is filled with Swedish fairy tales from my childhood. I have rediscovered these amazing stories with my children and we love them!! True fairy tales have witches and trolls and princesses and deep forests and all the elements of truly charming fairy tales. And the John Bauer illustrations are as enthralling as they were to me as a child.
August 20, 2016
Darkly beautiful folktales. Certainly some will leave you unsatisfied (Agneta and the Sea King comes to mind, and regardless it is still my favorite tale in the book) but I don't think the point of folktales that are centuries old is to appease a modern morality. John Bauer's gorgeous illustrations definitely make the stories come alive.
May 22, 2013
Riktigt fin bok!
Kort recension på bokpotaten.
Kort recension på bokpotaten.
July 28, 2024
i adore john bauer’s art. a contemporary of rakham, goble, nielsen, &c., his illustrations still stand apart from the rest. his enchanted forests are always dark, his lovely princesses always luminous, his mountain trolls always grubby. most illustrations are gloomy, with accentings of white to create an effect of gleaming. he stacks rolling hills one atop the other to give the impression of an inescapable woodland. and all creatures, bear, reindeer, and steeds alike, loom in every fairy tale. my favorites of this collection were the troll ride, the changelings (this features his only dark-haired girl), bella’s glorious adventure, the magician’s cape, the golden key, the boy who was never afraid, the queen’s pearl necklace, and the queen, although every story is very good.
September 22, 2025
Wspaniała! Nie tylko ze względu na przepiękne ilustracje Johna Bauera - które były moją główną motywacją przy wypożyczaniu książki - ale nade wszystko dla piękna literackiego zawartych w tej książce baśni. Jest to chyba bez mała najlepszy zbiór jaki kiedykolwiek czytałam - niektóre śmieszne, inne smutne lub melancholijne, niektóre proste, inne zaskakujące, opowiadające nie tylko o książętach i księżniczkach, ale także o trollach, pastuszkach i staruszkach. Aż się zastanawiam, czy nie kupić tej książki do własnego księgozbioru. I aż by się prosiło, by te baśnie wydano także u nas, w Polsce.
Dodatkowo, po tej lekturze koniecznie chcę pojechać do Jönköping, by zobaczyć prace Johna Bauera na żywo w tamtejszym muzeum i przejść się po pobliskich lasach, trasami, które na początku ubiegłego wieku przemierzał sam artysta i które na pewno zamieszkują skrzaty i trolle.
Dodatkowo, po tej lekturze koniecznie chcę pojechać do Jönköping, by zobaczyć prace Johna Bauera na żywo w tamtejszym muzeum i przejść się po pobliskich lasach, trasami, które na początku ubiegłego wieku przemierzał sam artysta i które na pewno zamieszkują skrzaty i trolle.
September 22, 2018
More or less as impressive as the Norwegian tales I read. Most aren't very grand, nor as whimsical as many of the Irish folktales I've read. Still, you'll find a couple of thought-provoking concepts in some of these tales, such as a man who steals shadows and a girl with eyes so expressive you could look at her and know exactly what she was thinking. And, of course, lots and lots of trolls! (Perhaps too many trolls...) I don't know how much inspiration I've found in these tales; I rather think reading the tales of Norse mythology was more interesting and inspiring!
But so far nothing beats Irish folktales!
But so far nothing beats Irish folktales!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2020
Jag älskar bilderna – sagorna inte så väldigt.
“Svanhamnen” och “Drottningens halsband” var de enda sagor som jag tyckte var riktigt bra. De handlar om kvinnans behov och självförverkligande och var dessutom välskrivna.
Jag säger inte att resten av sagorna är tråkiga. De flesta duger. De är dock antingen för repetitiva eller tråkiga. Jag har heller inget tålamod med berättelser där kvinnor inte kan rädda sig själva och där deras enda roll är att uppfylla männens behov eller där deras lyckliga slut ska hänga på vilken man hon gifter sig med. De kanske är bra ändå fast inte på samma sätt.
Varken "Oskuldens vandring" eller Tuvstarr var så här men de lämnade inte lika stort avtryck.
För några år sedan hade det varit det enda lyckliga slutet jag kunde tänka mig i en kvinnas liv. Men nu när jag snart är vuxen vill jag ha något mer.
“Svanhamnen” och “Drottningens halsband” var de enda sagor som jag tyckte var riktigt bra. De handlar om kvinnans behov och självförverkligande och var dessutom välskrivna.
Jag säger inte att resten av sagorna är tråkiga. De flesta duger. De är dock antingen för repetitiva eller tråkiga. Jag har heller inget tålamod med berättelser där kvinnor inte kan rädda sig själva och där deras enda roll är att uppfylla männens behov eller där deras lyckliga slut ska hänga på vilken man hon gifter sig med. De kanske är bra ändå fast inte på samma sätt.
Varken "Oskuldens vandring" eller Tuvstarr var så här men de lämnade inte lika stort avtryck.
För några år sedan hade det varit det enda lyckliga slutet jag kunde tänka mig i en kvinnas liv. Men nu när jag snart är vuxen vill jag ha något mer.
January 1, 2024
To begin with, this is not a book of traditional Swedish folk tales. This is instead a compilation of children's literature illustrated by John Bauer. Bauer's illustrations certainly make the book although many of the stories are delightful too. The following authors are included: Elisa Beskow, Anna Wahlenberg, Alfed Smedberg, Hedge Kjellin, Cyrus Graner, Helena Nyblom, P.A. Lindholm, Jeanna Osterdahl, Walter Strenstrom, Harald Ostenson, W.E. Bjork, and Einar Rosenborg. This is a reprint of stories contained within several books illustrated by Bauer. It should not be considered for academic work because there are no references to original sources.
December 16, 2018
3.5 stars
I got this from my dad when he visited London. He thought it was fun to see Swedish folk tales in English, and it was. I read it and it was a nice interpretation of translating words and old beliefs. In a way, I felt connected to my roots and history. And also, jeez we love to have bad people described as ugly and good people described as beautiful. We also liked to categorise some beings into helpful to humans or evil. But apart from that, it was a special read, and John Bauers drawings are so beautiful.
I got this from my dad when he visited London. He thought it was fun to see Swedish folk tales in English, and it was. I read it and it was a nice interpretation of translating words and old beliefs. In a way, I felt connected to my roots and history. And also, jeez we love to have bad people described as ugly and good people described as beautiful. We also liked to categorise some beings into helpful to humans or evil. But apart from that, it was a special read, and John Bauers drawings are so beautiful.
December 18, 2020
I became fascinated with John Bauer's luminous artwork and often humorous depiction of trolls this year. While originals of his works go for phenomenal prices, and the stories illustrated are in Swedish (a language I cannot read), there is this collection of "best of" stories, pictures, and more about the artist's short but productive life. The stories within were originally written for the publication "Tomtar och Troll" and are thus original fairy tales by some very fine Swedish writers. My personal favorite comes from Elsa Beskow, best known in my family for her "Aunt Green, Aunt Brown, Aunt Lavender" series. Any reader is sure to find a troll or two to their liking. As for Bauer, he is indeed one of the early 20th century's great illustrators, as influential as Arthur Rackham or Kay Nielsen.
March 31, 2021
Creepy, scary - and on the other hand, masterfully gorgeous and witty - that's what you get in the art of Swedish illustrator John Bauer. A contemporary of Arthur Rackham and Edmond Dulac, Bauer's art
is every bit as good as theirs and then some, but the pervading Nordic darkness gives it an edge lacking in his English counterparts. The stories themselves are by turns funny and scary, but it is Bauer's magnificent pen that makes them memorable. If Bauer hadn't died young in a tragic accident, he'd be much better known.
is every bit as good as theirs and then some, but the pervading Nordic darkness gives it an edge lacking in his English counterparts. The stories themselves are by turns funny and scary, but it is Bauer's magnificent pen that makes them memorable. If Bauer hadn't died young in a tragic accident, he'd be much better known.
February 27, 2018
This is a beautiful book that has an entire set of faerie/folk stories that I have never heard/read before! The art of John Baur is exactly what faerie tale art should look like; clear enough to help tell the story, but with a somewhat unfinished feel about them, rather like you see in a lot of the more classic art pieces of the late middle ages. If you like faerie tales or folk tales this is a must read!
Want to read
August 25, 2022Printi, printese, troli si vrajitoare. Basme suedeze
Vino să cutreieri pădurile magice ale copilăriei din universul basmelor ilustrate de John Bauer. Aici te vei întâlni cu Prințesa Fir-de-Bumbac și cu devotatul ei prieten, elanul Salt, cu prinți curajoși, dar și cu troli înfricoșători și vrăjitoare viclene. O coțofană poznașă îți va îndeplini dorințele, iar încântătoarea Prințesă Lebădă îți va fermeca inima pentru totdeauna.
June 7, 2023
My kids called this "the troll book" when they selected it for their bedtime story. Lovely illustrations accompany a good if uneven collection of folk tales. The stories can end up in odd places, but we love it. The book could do with a new edition as perhaps half the stories had some mistake in editing.
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