Norse Fairy & Folk Tales

by James Shepherd (Editor), George Webbe Dasent (Contributor), Charles John Tibbits (Contributor)

Meet gullible trolls, enterprising princesses and nefarious wizards in this treasury of 25 Norse fairy tales.

Collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in the 19th century, these Norwegian stories are described by Jacob Grimm as "surpassing nearly all others." They include such well-loved tales as 'The Three Billy Goat's Gruff' and 'Taming the Shrew' and open a window into the beautiful landscapes of Norway.

These funny and fantastical stories will delight the young and old.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Collections, Classics

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2019

Reviews

[Alix]

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.

[marielafaz]

I’m too Greek to appreciate such simple story telling

[Michelle]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Sarah Elise]

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]

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]

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

[Loki]

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

[Thomas Roberts]

My favorite stories were “East o’ the Sun and West o’ the Moon” and “The Giant who had no Heart in His Body.”