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A review by kikiandarrowsfishshelf
Norwegian Folktales by Jørgen Engebretsen Moe, Theodor Kittelsen, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Erik Werenskiold
5.0
My edition of this book is yellow and worn.
It's a wonderful book. Totally unedited tales, including one where a man murders his wife. In fact, and this is horrible to say, that tale is rather funny. This collection includes tales that were sources for the better know [a:Hans Christian Andersen|6378|Hans Christian Andersen|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1183230200p2/6378.jpg] versions, such as "The Companion" and "The Twevle Ducks".
One of the better tales is a version of "Puss in Boots" mixed with the French "The White Cat". Puss in the Norwegian tale is a nice female cat. This makes the tale closer to the the older Italian form, but without the rather cycnical ending that tale offers. It also makes me wonder why Puss is most often, at least today, a tom. Most of the women in the collection are princesses in need of rescuing, though some construct tests for their would be lovers.
My favorite tale, as always, is "The Companion", which Andersen redrafted as "The Traveling Companion". The tale transends the standard feel of death that many children have, and says more about pity and piety than most other tales. Though, I do have to wonder about the view of the princess in it, especially towards the end.
All in all a charming collection.
It's a wonderful book. Totally unedited tales, including one where a man murders his wife. In fact, and this is horrible to say, that tale is rather funny. This collection includes tales that were sources for the better know [a:Hans Christian Andersen|6378|Hans Christian Andersen|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1183230200p2/6378.jpg] versions, such as "The Companion" and "The Twevle Ducks".
One of the better tales is a version of "Puss in Boots" mixed with the French "The White Cat". Puss in the Norwegian tale is a nice female cat. This makes the tale closer to the the older Italian form, but without the rather cycnical ending that tale offers. It also makes me wonder why Puss is most often, at least today, a tom. Most of the women in the collection are princesses in need of rescuing, though some construct tests for their would be lovers.
My favorite tale, as always, is "The Companion", which Andersen redrafted as "The Traveling Companion". The tale transends the standard feel of death that many children have, and says more about pity and piety than most other tales. Though, I do have to wonder about the view of the princess in it, especially towards the end.
All in all a charming collection.