Italian Popular Tales

by Thomas Frederick Crane

Originally published in 1885, Italian Popular Tales is a fascinating trove of fairy tales, legends, ghost stories, nursery tales, and jests, and other oral accounts that were collected, recorded, translated, and annotated by Thomas Crane, the first folklorist to bring the riches of Italian oral tradition to the English-speaking world. Collectors in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries unearthed a wealth of stories from around the world and published them in English translations for the delight of general readers, young and old. Sadly, most of these anthologies have long been out of print. Italian Popular Tales brings back to life this key anthology of traditional tales from the golden age of folklore discovery. Crane's monumental achievement illustrates the enormous scope of his research, incomparable to other collections in the English language. In this modern edition, Crane's love for his work shines through the scholarship just as it did more than a century ago. The volume presents a virtually unaltered edition of this classic work that is enhanced by an authoritative Introduction by Jack Zipes. This insightful essay discusses the significance of the collection and its original collector; the original collector's methodology and translation practices; and the original period context. Certain to be of interest to folklorists, this classic collection is also meant to delight and amuse readers, whether a parent, storyteller, teacher, student, scholar, or just someone who enjoys original stories and authentic folk wisdom.

Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Fiction, Short Stories, Italy, Anthologies, Folklore

317 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 1885

About the author

1844-1927

Reviews

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nineteenth-century collection of tales from Italian.

A number of variants of popular European tales, plus some unusual ones. Also many legends, tales of fools, tales of crafty folks, and nursery tales.

Did not find the notes very useful and must note that some are inaccurate.

[Kam Sova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Küçükken ayıla bayıla okuduğumuz/dinlediğimiz masallara çok benzeyen, hatta bazen birebir aynısı olan, bir masallar serisi. Açıkçası Batı masallarının bu ataerkil ve kadın düşmanı kaynağından çok sıkılmış biri olarak okurken keyif almadım. Üstelik bazı masalların sonu bir çocuğa okunmaması gereken bir korkunçluk içeriyordu.

[Egem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uzun zaman sonra böyle masallar okumak gerçekten de çok güzeldi. Masalların bazıları çok tanıdık, bazıları da çok şaşırtıcıydı. Kitabı gerçekten çok beğendim.

[Gamze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serinin en beğendiğim kitabı oldu şimdilik. Sanırım kötücül masallar daha çok hoşuma gidiyor, tıpkı filmlerdeki kötü karakterler gibi:)))

[Kaethe]

Includes Ursula Vernon's recommended "The Hog Bridegroom" which has the otter with 24 heads.

[Fiona Dax · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it

[Abdulrahman · Rating 2 out of 5]

الكتاب مترجم عن دار كلمة وهو جزء من سلسلة كاملة تنشرها الدار عن القصص الشعوب و حكاياتها ، هذا النوع من القصص أراه أكثر تسلية إن كان يروى شفاهة كما كنا نشاهدها صغارا في كرتون حكايات عالمية التي أشاهدها حتى اليوم أحيانا ، الحكايات الشعبية تعليمية في جزء منها ومسلية في جزء آخر و رغم تشابه كثير منها بين عدد من الدول لكنه يبدو أن هناك مركزية لبعض القيم عند شعوب دون شعوب رغم المشتركات الكثيرة ، فالحكايات الشعبية التركية التي قرأتها قبل هذا الكتاب كان للجمال و الذكاء والحيلة مركزية شديدة في كل قصصها ، بينما في القصص الإيطالية وإن تشابهت في شأن الحيلة لكنها تذكر كثيرا السحر والشعوذة والجن.

[yelda ademoglu gulkilik]

İtalyan Masallarının bir derlemesi olan kitap,
Peri Masallarında kötülük, şiddet ürkütücüydü. Rahatsızlık hissederek okudum. Üvey anneden gelen kötülüklere aşinaydım ama öz kardeşin hainlikleri can sıkıcıydı.
Derken önce efsaneler ardından doğu masalları seçkisi keyifli kısa masallarla devam etti. Hani sanki arada sırada okuyup ders alınacak cinsten tatlı kısa masallarla.
Kitap biter bitmez daha fazla masal okuma hissi içimi doldurdu. Şimdi yer yüzünün farklı coğrafyalarından daha fazla masal okumak istiyorum

Çocuk masalları seçkisini henüz tamamlayamadım :(

[Jamille Parks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read Zelinda and the Monster. Another retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

[Max K. Nathansohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

El cuento intitulado "Decimotercero".

[Amalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not reviewing the entire book*
Spoiler alert***

(reviewing for study purposes)

"The Fair Angiola" is an Italian fairy tale that is similar to Rapunzel with a number of variation to the plot:

1. Seven women enter into the garden of the witch to steal jujubes. On the third day the which hid herself to capture them. All of whom escaped but one.

2.The witch finally forgave the woman on the condition that she would give her her child, yet unborn, whether a boy or girl, when it was seven years old.

3. When Angiola is seven the witch asks for the child and the mother gives her.

4. "Angiola, fair Angiola, let down your pretty tresses and pull me up!"

5. She runs away with the prince after bribing the furniture (which are alive)however the broom betrays Angiola.

6.Angiola uses 3 magic balls of yarn to defeat the witch ( a famous element missing in The Grimm's version but appears in many other). The witch turns Angiola's face to a dog's face.

7. The prince doesn't want to marry her. Later the witch feeling sorry removes the curse and the prince takes her to his kingdom ...blah blah blah blah blah

NO SHE DIDN'T THANK THE WITCH OR INVITED HER TO THE WEDDING. THE PRINCE ONLY LOVED HER PRETTY FACE AND THE LONG HAIR. *sigh*

[Haneen · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's very interesting stories and it's full of fun..they are short enough to make them suitable for children..Most of it talk about marriage...