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taylormorgantm's review
challenging
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
takethyme's review
3.0
Originally published in 1926, my copy is from 1954. The pictures found among the pages are extremely colorful and interesting to look at if nothing else for the clothes alone. The designs were done by Maud and Miska Petersham. Maud and Miska married in 1917 and produced illustrations for more than 120 textbooks, anthologies, and picture books.
Unusual in one respect, the page of 'Contents' is found at the back of the book and the stories are listed alphabetically by title instead of numerically. There are 46 individual tales. Also included are old song lyrics and poems.
The first is titled 'Altchen and Berend-John' about two young people in love but a greedy father that means to keep them apart. This was not a children's story. 'The Mermaid of Edam' was a short description of townspeople taking a mermaid and making her into a "proper Edam housewife". Sort of pointless, the Burgomaster was rewarded for civilizing the mermaid in the conclusion but it was not in a good way.
Honestly, I found many of the stories just descriptions of something that happened. Some had no real ending. Politics and religion are included and vanity was often made fun of. Several tales spoke of the intrusion of Spain and how the people of the Netherlands were affected during the 1600's. I think that this book would interest those primarily of Dutch descent. If you are looking for fairy tales for children or fables, look elsewhere.
Unusual in one respect, the page of 'Contents' is found at the back of the book and the stories are listed alphabetically by title instead of numerically. There are 46 individual tales. Also included are old song lyrics and poems.
The first is titled 'Altchen and Berend-John' about two young people in love but a greedy father that means to keep them apart. This was not a children's story. 'The Mermaid of Edam' was a short description of townspeople taking a mermaid and making her into a "proper Edam housewife". Sort of pointless, the Burgomaster was rewarded for civilizing the mermaid in the conclusion but it was not in a good way.
Honestly, I found many of the stories just descriptions of something that happened. Some had no real ending. Politics and religion are included and vanity was often made fun of. Several tales spoke of the intrusion of Spain and how the people of the Netherlands were affected during the 1600's. I think that this book would interest those primarily of Dutch descent. If you are looking for fairy tales for children or fables, look elsewhere.
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