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Great Swedish Fairy Tales
Twenty-one Swedish fairy tales accompanied by John Bauer’s paintings and drawings that originally illustrated them.
1. When Mother Troll Took in the King’s Washing by Elsa Beskow
2. The Magician’s Cape by Anna Wahlenberg
3. The Barrel Bung by Anna Wahlenberg
4. The Seven Wishes by Alfred Smedberg
5. The King’s Choice by Anna Wahlenberg
6. The Four Big Trolls and Little Peter Pastureman by Cyrus Graner
7. The Troll Ride by Anna Wahlenberg
8. The Trolls and the Youngest Tomte by Alfred Smedberg
9. The Ring by Helena Nyblom
10. The Old Troll of Big Mountain by Anna Wahlenberg
11. Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass by Helge Kjellin
12. The Magpie with Salt on Her Tail by Anna Wahlenberg
13. The Boy Who Was Never Afraid by Alfred Smedberg
14. The Changelings by Helena Nyblom
15. Stalo and Kauras by P. A. Lindholm
16. The Flower of Happiness on Sunnymount Crest by Alfred Smedberg
17. Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain by Harald Ostenson
18. Linda-Gold and the Old King by Anna Wahlenberg
19. The Boy and the Trolls, or The Adventure by Walter Stenstrom
20. The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds by Harald Ostenson
21. The Queen by Anna Wahlenberg
1. When Mother Troll Took in the King’s Washing by Elsa Beskow
2. The Magician’s Cape by Anna Wahlenberg
3. The Barrel Bung by Anna Wahlenberg
4. The Seven Wishes by Alfred Smedberg
5. The King’s Choice by Anna Wahlenberg
6. The Four Big Trolls and Little Peter Pastureman by Cyrus Graner
7. The Troll Ride by Anna Wahlenberg
8. The Trolls and the Youngest Tomte by Alfred Smedberg
9. The Ring by Helena Nyblom
10. The Old Troll of Big Mountain by Anna Wahlenberg
11. Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass by Helge Kjellin
12. The Magpie with Salt on Her Tail by Anna Wahlenberg
13. The Boy Who Was Never Afraid by Alfred Smedberg
14. The Changelings by Helena Nyblom
15. Stalo and Kauras by P. A. Lindholm
16. The Flower of Happiness on Sunnymount Crest by Alfred Smedberg
17. Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain by Harald Ostenson
18. Linda-Gold and the Old King by Anna Wahlenberg
19. The Boy and the Trolls, or The Adventure by Walter Stenstrom
20. The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds by Harald Ostenson
21. The Queen by Anna Wahlenberg
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1966
14 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 2, 2016
This book has wonderful tales and equally wonderful artwork by John Bauer. Three tales stand out, "The Magician's Cape", "The Queen," and "The Changelings". The stories include encounters with trolls and feature a good mixture of heros and heroines.
It should be noted, however, that the heroines are more traditional. I don't know how many times I have read this book since my parents gave it to me when we were in Sweden. I know, if food stains are any indicition, that my favorite tale is "The Changelings". Even today, as an adult, I still love that story. The reason why, at least as an adult, is that the story is so even handed. In many stories, trolls are the bad guys. In "The Changelings," the troll wife is protrayed sympathically. In fact, the book is just as much about mothers and daughters than changlings.
As an adult, I also admire the understated tale "The Queen", perhaps one of the most simple and wonderful love stories I have read.
It should be noted, however, that the heroines are more traditional. I don't know how many times I have read this book since my parents gave it to me when we were in Sweden. I know, if food stains are any indicition, that my favorite tale is "The Changelings". Even today, as an adult, I still love that story. The reason why, at least as an adult, is that the story is so even handed. In many stories, trolls are the bad guys. In "The Changelings," the troll wife is protrayed sympathically. In fact, the book is just as much about mothers and daughters than changlings.
As an adult, I also admire the understated tale "The Queen", perhaps one of the most simple and wonderful love stories I have read.
September 24, 2018
Where have you been all my life, John Bauer? How could I have worshipped at the altar of Arthur Rackham and not known about you? Why did I pore over Edmund Dulac's work, and yet not bump into you? You must have been out troll hunting in the forests of Sweden. Seriously, Bauer is a dark genius of art nouveau illustration, and these stories, although uneven in the telling, are enchanting.
January 22, 2015
Like many, I suspect, my idea of a Troll was very much the contemporary one of an ugly, malevolent giant. As this collection of authentic swedish fairy tales proves, this is a narrow and inaccurate view. Trolls are, rather, Scandinavian fairies, and as such are more commonly short in stature, black with big mouths, full of magic and good as well as bad.
Generally though, you don't want to trifle with a Troll. Even acquiring their treasure often leads to trouble. Occasionally though they can be bested, as proved in 'The Coal Burner and the Troll', where a man escapes a bargain with a Troll maiden by tricking her, or in 'The Cat of Norrhult', actually a bear which batters and banishes all Trolls from the locality.
There are plenty of tales involving giants, however. These stories often explain the origins of certain topographical features, such as large stones ('The Ulfgryt Stones') or bridges ('The Bridge Over Kalmarsound' etc)
A recurring explanation for the huge, seemingly misplaced stones which animate the Swedish landscape is that, with the coming of Christianity, giants such the unfortunately named Puke tossed them at churches to silence the sound of ringing bells, which they hated.
Another recurring theme across these tales explain local myths about buried treasure, such as 'The Treasure at Saby Creek', where a miser's hoard could not be drawn out by "skimmed milk calves" and so is supposed to reside there still.
The material itself in this collection is wonderful, but the way in which the tales have been rendered is unfortunately purely functional throughout, which is a disappointment.
As a reference book then, there is great value, especially as the tales are distinguished by the locality they originated from, but as a reading experience it could have entertained a whole lot more.
Generally though, you don't want to trifle with a Troll. Even acquiring their treasure often leads to trouble. Occasionally though they can be bested, as proved in 'The Coal Burner and the Troll', where a man escapes a bargain with a Troll maiden by tricking her, or in 'The Cat of Norrhult', actually a bear which batters and banishes all Trolls from the locality.
There are plenty of tales involving giants, however. These stories often explain the origins of certain topographical features, such as large stones ('The Ulfgryt Stones') or bridges ('The Bridge Over Kalmarsound' etc)
A recurring explanation for the huge, seemingly misplaced stones which animate the Swedish landscape is that, with the coming of Christianity, giants such the unfortunately named Puke tossed them at churches to silence the sound of ringing bells, which they hated.
Another recurring theme across these tales explain local myths about buried treasure, such as 'The Treasure at Saby Creek', where a miser's hoard could not be drawn out by "skimmed milk calves" and so is supposed to reside there still.
The material itself in this collection is wonderful, but the way in which the tales have been rendered is unfortunately purely functional throughout, which is a disappointment.
As a reference book then, there is great value, especially as the tales are distinguished by the locality they originated from, but as a reading experience it could have entertained a whole lot more.
March 12, 2011
'Privately, Troll Mother LIKED the smell of coffee, but still said "ugh" every time Troll Father mentioned it.' 'You kiss the ring," said the prince. 'Do you think you could rather kiss me?' 'If the troll took the bread now, he would not be able to stuff Olle into his sack. And that, of course, would never do.' 'That much is true. Now here is a fairy tale about it.' Bahaha, those are some great lines in this great book of Great Swedish Fairy Tales. All about trolls and tomtes and princesses and daring boys. The Swedes have great fairy tales, I must say. Harligt, harligt. :D
July 22, 2024
köpte den mest för illustrationernas skull men sagorna var också fina
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March 13, 2023When Mother Troll Took in the King's Washing •Elsa Beskow (1914)
The Magician's Cape • Anna Wahlenberg (1912)
The Barrel Bung • short story by Anna Wahlenberg (1903)
The Seven Wishes • Alfred Smedberg (1907)
The King's Choice •Anna Wahlenberg
The Four Big Trolls and Little Peter Pastureman • Cyrus Graner (1909)
The Troll Ride • short story by Anna Wahlenberg (1910)
The Trolls and the Youngest Tomte • Alfred Smedberg (1909)
The Ring • short story by Helena Nyblom (1914)
The Old Troll of Big Mountain •Anna Wahlenberg (1903)
Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass •Helge Kjellin (1913)
The Magpie with Salt on Her Tail •Anna Wahlenberg (1903)
The Boy Who Was Never Afraid • Alfred Smedberg (1912)
The Changelings •Helena Nyblom (1913)
Stalo and Kauras •P. A. Lindholm
The Flower of Happiness on Sunnymount Crest•Alfred Smedberg (1907)
Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain•Harald Östenson(1907)
Linda-Gold and the Old King•Anna Wahlenberg (1903)
The Boy and the Trolls, or The Adventure • Walter Stenström (1915)
The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds • Harald Östenson(1911)
The Queen •Anna Wahlenberg (1903)
The Magician's Cape • Anna Wahlenberg (1912)
The Barrel Bung • short story by Anna Wahlenberg (1903)
The Seven Wishes • Alfred Smedberg (1907)
The King's Choice •Anna Wahlenberg
The Four Big Trolls and Little Peter Pastureman • Cyrus Graner (1909)
The Troll Ride • short story by Anna Wahlenberg (1910)
The Trolls and the Youngest Tomte • Alfred Smedberg (1909)
The Ring • short story by Helena Nyblom (1914)
The Old Troll of Big Mountain •Anna Wahlenberg (1903)
Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass •Helge Kjellin (1913)
The Magpie with Salt on Her Tail •Anna Wahlenberg (1903)
The Boy Who Was Never Afraid • Alfred Smedberg (1912)
The Changelings •Helena Nyblom (1913)
Stalo and Kauras •P. A. Lindholm
The Flower of Happiness on Sunnymount Crest•Alfred Smedberg (1907)
Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain•Harald Östenson(1907)
Linda-Gold and the Old King•Anna Wahlenberg (1903)
The Boy and the Trolls, or The Adventure • Walter Stenström (1915)
The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds • Harald Östenson(1911)
The Queen •Anna Wahlenberg (1903)
October 30, 2015
"Fairy tales can come true... it can happen to you... if you're young at heart," remember that song? Fairy tales have been told through the ages: traditional ones, classical ones, fractured ones... all the time keeping their spirit alive and our imaginations animated and asking for even more.
They have been made into t.v. series, movies, poems and even comic books. It is always fun to broaden our horizons and include some tales from a different culture.
"Swedish Fairy Tales (from Sky Pony Express) is a collection of twenty-one magical, marvellous adventures filled with wicked magicians, troublesome trolls, teasing magpies, and solemn tomtar. In Swedish fairy tales, frogs becomes beautiful fairy girls, troll girls marry troll princess, kings transform into woodcutters, and little boys go searching for adventure in the forest."
The stories are witty, clever and full of adventure and magic. Strange characters are brought to life by one of the world's greatest illustrators of fairy tales, John Bauer. He is recognized by his big, bulbous-nosed, good natured trolls and his amazing attention to detail. His heroines and heroes bring hope and goodness to the stories because we all know that the ultimate battle of good vs evil ends in a triumphant victory for good.
This book would be a wonderful gift to give to kids ages ten and up. The new fairy tales introduced to them will surely delight their creative thinking and their hearts. Bauer's full illustrations are filled with adventure and enchantment making this a perfect book for reluctant readers. I really loved it myself and highly recommend it.
They have been made into t.v. series, movies, poems and even comic books. It is always fun to broaden our horizons and include some tales from a different culture.
"Swedish Fairy Tales (from Sky Pony Express) is a collection of twenty-one magical, marvellous adventures filled with wicked magicians, troublesome trolls, teasing magpies, and solemn tomtar. In Swedish fairy tales, frogs becomes beautiful fairy girls, troll girls marry troll princess, kings transform into woodcutters, and little boys go searching for adventure in the forest."
The stories are witty, clever and full of adventure and magic. Strange characters are brought to life by one of the world's greatest illustrators of fairy tales, John Bauer. He is recognized by his big, bulbous-nosed, good natured trolls and his amazing attention to detail. His heroines and heroes bring hope and goodness to the stories because we all know that the ultimate battle of good vs evil ends in a triumphant victory for good.
This book would be a wonderful gift to give to kids ages ten and up. The new fairy tales introduced to them will surely delight their creative thinking and their hearts. Bauer's full illustrations are filled with adventure and enchantment making this a perfect book for reluctant readers. I really loved it myself and highly recommend it.
February 20, 2013
Sagovärldar, åh, var har den här literaturen tagit vägen?
Jag drunknade i den här boken, och jag älskade alla sagor.
Trollen är inte alltid onda som man kan se i exempelvis "bortbytingarna" :)
Topp!
Jag drunknade i den här boken, och jag älskade alla sagor.
Trollen är inte alltid onda som man kan se i exempelvis "bortbytingarna" :)
Topp!
December 20, 2018
A dear friend recently gave me this book in Swedish, after I read it in English, & mentioned that I didn’t feel the magic was the same when translated, but I still loved the illustrations. I grew up with these stories, in Swedish, and these illustrations make the bones of this whole world of trolls and deep forests.
May 9, 2021
This is a collection of Swedish/Scandinavian fairy tales, illustrated by John Bauer.
The stories in this book are:
* "When Mother Troll Took in the King's Washing"
* "The Magician's Cape"
* "The Barrel Bung"
* "The Seven Wishes"
* "The King's Choice"
* "The Four Big Trolls and Little Peter Pastureman"
* "The Troll Ride"
* "The Trolls and the Youngest Tomte"
* "The Ring"
* "The Old Troll of Big Mountain"
* "Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass"
* "The Magpie with Salt on Her Tail"
* "The Boy Who Was Never Afraid"
* "The Changelings"
* "Stalo and Kaurus"
* "The Flower of Happiness on Sunnymount Crest"
* "Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain"
* "Linda-Gold and the Old King"
* "The Boy and the Trolls, or the Adventure"
* "The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds"
* "The Queen"
I read this book just to see the artwork of John Bauer, but I enjoyed the stories as well. My favorite was "The Ring," which begins, "Once upon a time a young prince went riding out in the moonlight." That's a perfect fairy tale first line. My second favorite was "Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass" in which the elk warns the heedless princess, "The world is full of evil and wickedness, and it will hurt you." The illustrations for both are phenomenal.
As someone raised on the stories collected by the Brothers Grimm, the best known fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, the most common Russian folktales, Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes, and William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience, which my non-native English-speaking relatives somehow became convinced were classic poems that all English-speaking children knew, I found the unknown quality of these tales refreshing.
The stories featured magical beings unfamiliar to me. I quickly figured out tomtes were equivalent to brownies and domovoi. But I had to completely rethink my concept of trolls. These trolls are unlike the ones I had encountered in Tolkien. At different times, they resemble many different types of faeries both in appearance and in behavior.
I loved the artwork. (Don't judge a book by its cover. The picture on the front of this edition isn't a good representation of the illustrations within.) There is a powerful representation of nature, and the mythological creatures blend organically into the landscape of dense forests, still water, and rocks. The artist obviously loved rocks; there are a lot of rocks. His use of light and shadow is amazing. In some of the pictures, a character will literally glow against a dark background. The art reminded me of Arthur Rackham and Brian Froud, and I deeply enjoyed it. I may have to buy a copy of The Fairy Tale Art of John Bauer.
The stories in this book are:
* "When Mother Troll Took in the King's Washing"
* "The Magician's Cape"
* "The Barrel Bung"
* "The Seven Wishes"
* "The King's Choice"
* "The Four Big Trolls and Little Peter Pastureman"
* "The Troll Ride"
* "The Trolls and the Youngest Tomte"
* "The Ring"
* "The Old Troll of Big Mountain"
* "Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass"
* "The Magpie with Salt on Her Tail"
* "The Boy Who Was Never Afraid"
* "The Changelings"
* "Stalo and Kaurus"
* "The Flower of Happiness on Sunnymount Crest"
* "Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain"
* "Linda-Gold and the Old King"
* "The Boy and the Trolls, or the Adventure"
* "The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds"
* "The Queen"
I read this book just to see the artwork of John Bauer, but I enjoyed the stories as well. My favorite was "The Ring," which begins, "Once upon a time a young prince went riding out in the moonlight." That's a perfect fairy tale first line. My second favorite was "Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass" in which the elk warns the heedless princess, "The world is full of evil and wickedness, and it will hurt you." The illustrations for both are phenomenal.
As someone raised on the stories collected by the Brothers Grimm, the best known fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, the most common Russian folktales, Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes, and William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience, which my non-native English-speaking relatives somehow became convinced were classic poems that all English-speaking children knew, I found the unknown quality of these tales refreshing.
The stories featured magical beings unfamiliar to me. I quickly figured out tomtes were equivalent to brownies and domovoi. But I had to completely rethink my concept of trolls. These trolls are unlike the ones I had encountered in Tolkien. At different times, they resemble many different types of faeries both in appearance and in behavior.
I loved the artwork. (Don't judge a book by its cover. The picture on the front of this edition isn't a good representation of the illustrations within.) There is a powerful representation of nature, and the mythological creatures blend organically into the landscape of dense forests, still water, and rocks. The artist obviously loved rocks; there are a lot of rocks. His use of light and shadow is amazing. In some of the pictures, a character will literally glow against a dark background. The art reminded me of Arthur Rackham and Brian Froud, and I deeply enjoyed it. I may have to buy a copy of The Fairy Tale Art of John Bauer.
March 11, 2012
I picked up this collection of fairy tales at a Swedish culture fair, and I'm glad I did. Some of the country's most popular fairytale writers of a century ago, like Anna Wahlenberg and Alfred Smedberg, spin tales of noble knights and fairminded princesses, ne'er-do-well trolls and guardian tomtes. My favorites were The Magpie with Salt on Her Tail (about a crafty magpie and a young boy who embodies the twin virtues of patience and fortitude), and Stalo and Kauras (about a young Lapp boy who attempts to outwit a giant). The book is richly illustrated by John Bauer, which is a treat. These stories were written a century ago, so they don't reflect modern sensibilities (heroes are always fair and villains dark), but that's true of fairy tales from all over the world, so more related to time than place. All in all, a fun escape to a magical world.
March 1, 2016
This book was amazing! There were witches and trolls and tomtes and it was not all soft and sweet. These fairy tales are filled with adventure and magic. the 21 tales plots differ, not all princesses and princes like Disney fairy tales. I read a lot of fairy tales and it was hard to find ones I haven't read but these were different than other folk tales I've read. I got tired of reading stories about helpless princesses, these stories are about peasants looking for adventure or tomtes seeking the gold that was stolen from them by trolls. Every one of these tales were amazing and unique. I recommend this book for people in general bored of Disney fairy tales!
June 6, 2021
This beautifully illustrated collection of fairy tales is a mixture of dark and joyful imagery, full of trolls, royalty, humble croft dwellers, witches, wild animals, and both helpful and malevolent creatures. Although many of the stories are set in forests and other quite gloomy places, they are interwoven with hope and humour.
The copy I read belonged to my late father, who loved folk tales. As a young man he lived in Sweden for a time, and when I was young he sometimes read to me in Swedish. This has nothing to do with my review of the book, although I think hearing stories in another language when you're young helps plant a sort of cultural seed.
The copy I read belonged to my late father, who loved folk tales. As a young man he lived in Sweden for a time, and when I was young he sometimes read to me in Swedish. This has nothing to do with my review of the book, although I think hearing stories in another language when you're young helps plant a sort of cultural seed.
March 10, 2015
This is one of the best book of fairy tales I have ever read. Many fairy tales can be repetitive (due to oral tradition) but these are not. I was absolutely delighted by them. Even more delightful were the illustrations. John Bauer should be counted among the great illustrators of all time. In fact, he was a major influence on Kay Nielsen, who is counted as one of the best. This is a must read for anyone that appreciates fairy tales, and good book illustrators at that.
March 12, 2019
I got the book because I wanted to see Bauer's illustrations - which are very nice.
The stories were good, especially since I hadn't heard most of them before. There's a lot of trolls, tomtes, and princesses, as well as garden boy heroes. I liked these because while they were exciting, they weren't as dark as a lot of the Grimm Brother ones. It was a nice change of pace - fantasy, a bit of danger, not Disneyfied, but interesting.
The stories were good, especially since I hadn't heard most of them before. There's a lot of trolls, tomtes, and princesses, as well as garden boy heroes. I liked these because while they were exciting, they weren't as dark as a lot of the Grimm Brother ones. It was a nice change of pace - fantasy, a bit of danger, not Disneyfied, but interesting.
September 1, 2016
Mostly I delved into this book because of the work of the illustrator, John Bauer, but there are some lovely stories within this book that I continue to think about as well. It is a good book to share out loud with a friend who is equally enthusiastic about beautiful illustrations... and journeys through the magical forest.
February 16, 2016
Pale princesses and big eared trolls, brave boys and clever tomtes. I enjoyed this collection of fairy stories that I had never encountered before. John Bauer's illustrations make this collection extra special.
August 29, 2017
I grew up reading these stories, but this summer I bought a paper back copy to bring with me when I went camping, and read them in the evenings. They're such cute and interesting fairy tales. I especially enjoyed the ones by Anna Wahlenberg.
February 15, 2008
These swedish fairy tales are dark, scary and GREAT! Granted, they're for children, but I rank them as one of my favorite pieces of literature.
August 29, 2010
This is one of my favorite books from my childhood!
August 18, 2013
My favorite fairytale book, as much for the beautiful illustrations as the stories.
October 14, 2012
Beautiful!
October 7, 2014
a book I can keep looking at forever
December 11, 2015
Fantastic.
November 5, 2014
Absolutely Lovely. Original ,devastatingly fairy talish :) Love those illustrations too!
November 17, 2016
This is a good collection, with clever and atmospheric stories, but wow, that's a lot of trolls.
August 18, 2017
Enjoyed this immensely. Wonderful.
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September 26, 2020the stories are excellent
February 8, 2008
I'm not sure this is the correct author, but the book did have this exact title.
May 7, 2009
Grew up reading these stories with my father.
One of most treasured memories!
One of most treasured memories!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews