Norse Fairy & Folk Tales

by James Shepherd (Editor)

This collection of Norse Fairy and Folk Tales contains translations of over 25 classic tales. Within them we find the origin of many other folk lore traditions. Many of the tales, particularly those translated by G.W. Dasent, come from Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe's Norske Folkeeventyr (Norwegian Folktales). Asbjørnsen and Moe drew inspiration from the Brothers Grimm believing their work to be of national importance for the newly independent Norway.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Classics

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2019

Reviews

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting, easy read. A few thoughts on Norse folk tales:
1) the males are idiots and should listen to the women folk more often
2) are all youngest sons named Boots?
3) trolls and ogres are very easily tricked
4) kings really like beating people
5) princesses aren’t too picky about who they marry

That’s about all I learned.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of fairy/folk tales (one or two possibly more in the "Nursery Rhyme" genre) from the collections of 3 different translators: George Webbe Dasent (1817–1896); Charles John Tibbits (1861-1935); Katharine Pyle (1863-1938). Some I have encountered in other Norse-based folklore collections, others I have not, and a few I suspect may be more generally European than specifically Norse in origin (like the Henny Penny/Chicken Little story). Lots of stories featuring "Boots" as the main character (the clever, yet youngest and most underestimated child in a family that often pokes at the fire all day until he saves the princess or kills the trolls or tricks the king out of all of his money).

[Harmony Rasuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales about Trolls, Giants, sons, youngest sons called Boots, sons leaving their home to explore the world and failing to make something of themselves because of their greed and cruelty, according to stories youngest sons called Boots are clever and kind and get what they want, princesses are trophies to be won and be given by the king to anyone who succeeds in completing the quest they are given.

This is a easy reading book. Stories with a moral.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Shepherd compiled of various Norse tales, as originally translated by the various original authors. The dates language makes these tales less enjoyable as entertainment, but interesting as a window into the past.

I recommend the book for people who have a blended interest in Norse history and folk tales.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots if people who don’t listen. “I’ll give you the world if you shut your eyes for 5 seconds” (not an actual quote) and these mthfkrs cannot do it. Anyway enjoyed a bit of story telling or whatever

[Kees · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but too repetitive and too much old timey language for my taste

[Sarah Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting fables, written in old English and hard to follow at times. Some of the stories are the same but slightly different so I understand why people in the reviews are calling it repetitive.

[Masha Pavlov · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories were nice, and resembled other folklore stories that I've read. But I felt that the anachronisms are a bit odd

[A.R. Showler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Christianized fairytales. Only the stories within the last 50 pages are worth reading.

[Loki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little collection; some of the language used is odd though... why are they using dollars???