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Cinderella in America: A Book of Folk and Fairy Tales
By William Bernard Mccarthy. 2007
For years, many folklorists have denied the possibility of a truly American folk or fairy tale. They have argued that…
the tales found in the United States are watered-down derivatives of European fare. With this gathering, William Bernard McCarthy compiles evidence strongly to the contrary. Cinderella in America: A Book of Folk and Fairy Tales represents these tales as they have been told in the United States from Revolutionary days until the present. To capture this richness, tales are grouped in chapters that represent regional and ethnic groups, including Iberian, French, German, British, Irish, other European, African American, and Native American. These tales are drawn from published collections, journals, and archives, and from fieldwork by McCarthy and his colleagues. Created along the nationalist model of the Brothers Grimm yet as diverse in its voices and themes as the nation it represents, Cinderella in America shows these tales truly merit the designation American.The Complete Folktales of A. N. Afanas’ev: Volume I
By Jack V. Haney. 2014
The folktales of A. N. Afanas’ev represent the largest single collection of folktales in any European language and perhaps in…
the world. Widely regarded as the Russian Grimm, Afanas’ev collected folktales from throughout the Russian Empire in what are now regarded as the three East Slavic languages, Byelorusian, Russian, and Ukrainian. The result of his own collecting, the collecting of friends and correspondents, and in a few cases his publishing of works from earlier and forgotten collections is truly phenomenal. In his lifetime, Afanas’ev published more than 575 tales in his most popular and best-known work, Narodnye russkie skazki. In addition to this basic collection he prepared a volume of Russian legends, many on religious themes, an anthology of mildly obscene tales, and voluminous writings on Slavic folk life and Slavic mythology. His works were subject to the strict censorship of ecclesiastical and state authorities that lasted until the demise of the Soviet Union at the end of the twentieth century. Overwhelmingly, his particular emendations were of a stylistic nature, while those of the censors mostly concerned content. The censored tales are generally not included. Up to now, there has been no complete English-language version of the Russian folktales of Afanas’ev. This translation is based on L. G. Barag and N. V. Novikov’s edition (Moscow: Nauka, 1984-1986), widely regarded as the authoritative edition. The present edition includes commentaries to each tale as well as its international classification number.Long, Long Tales from the Russian North
By Jack V. Haney. 2013
This volume of folktales from the Far North of European Russia features seventeen works by five narrators of the Russian…
tale, all recorded in the twentieth century. The tales, distinguished by their extraordinary length and by the manner in which they were commonly told, appear to have flourished only in the twentieth century and only in Russian Karelia. Although the tales are easily recognized as wondertales, or fairy tales, their treatment of the traditional matter is anything but usual. In these tales one encounters such topics as regicide, matricide, patricide, fratricide, premarital relations between the sexes and more, all related in the typical manner of the Russian folktale. The narrators were not educated beyond a rudimentary level. All were middle-aged or older, and all were men. Crew members of a fishing or hunting vessel plying the White Sea or lumberjacks or trappers in the vast northern forests, they frequently began the narration of a tale in an evening, then broke off at an appropriate moment and continued at a subsequent gathering. Such tales were thus told serially. Given their length, their thematic and narrative complexity, and their stylistic proficiency, one might even refer to them as orally delivered Russian short stories or novellas.A collection of political tales—first published in British workers’ magazines—selected and introduced by acclaimed critic and author Michael RosenIn the…
late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, unique tales inspired by traditional literary forms appeared frequently in socialist-leaning British periodicals, such as the Clarion, Labour Leader, and Social Democrat. Based on familiar genres—the fairy tale, fable, allegory, parable, and moral tale—and penned by a range of lesser-known and celebrated authors, including Schalom Asch, Charles Allen Clarke, Frederick James Gould, and William Morris, these stories were meant to entertain readers of all ages—and some challenged the conventional values promoted in children’s literature for the middle class. In Workers’ Tales, acclaimed critic and author Michael Rosen brings together more than forty of the best and most enduring examples of these stories in one beautiful volume.Throughout, the tales in this collection exemplify themes and ideas related to work and the class system, sometimes in wish-fulfilling ways. In “Tom Hickathrift,” a little, poor person gets the better of a gigantic, wealthy one. In “The Man Without a Heart,” a man learns about the value of basic labor after testing out more privileged lives. And in “The Political Economist and the Flowers,” two contrasting gardeners highlight the cold heart of Darwinian competition. Rosen’s informative introduction describes how such tales advocated for contemporary progressive causes and countered the dominant celebration of Britain’s imperial values. The book includes archival illustrations, biographical notes about the writers, and details about the periodicals where the tales first appeared.Provocative and enlightening, Workers’ Tales presents voices of resistance that are more relevant than ever before.A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
By Mark Twain. 2015
Mark Twain&’s classic satirical tale of time travel and Arthurian legend Hank Morgan is a supervisor at a firearms factory…
in Hartford, Connecticut. Following a violent argument with a man named Hercules, Hank is surprised to find himself under an oak tree, staring up at a man on horseback in full armor. The year is 528, and Hank has somehow landed in King Arthur&’s Court in Camelot. Worse still, Hank is ridiculed by the boorish knights, brought in front of the Round Table, and sentenced to burn at the stake. Will Hank die at the hands of the Knights of the Round Table, or can his Yankee ingenuity save his hide? Mark Twain&’s seminal satire sends up the South&’s ridiculous preoccupation with chivalry, the Catholic Church, fear of science and progress, and dozens of other behaviors and beliefs. Credited as a foundational work of the time travel subgenre of science fiction, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur&’s Court is also a timeless comic classic. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.Song of the Huntress
By Lucy Holland. 2024
The acclaimed author of Sistersong transforms the story of Herla and the Wild Hunt into a rich, feminist fantasy in this stunning…
tale of two great warriors, a war-torn land, and an ancient magic that is slowly awakening. Britain, 60AD. Hoping to save her lover, her land, and her people from the Romans, Herla makes a desperate pact with the king of the Otherworld. But years pass unheeded in his realm, and she escapes to find everyone she loved long dead. Cursed to wield his blade, she becomes Lord of the Hunt. And for centuries, she rides, leading her immortal warriors and reaping wanderers&’ souls. Until the night she meets a woman on a bloody battlefield—a Saxon queen with ice-blue eyes. Queen Æthelburg of Wessex is a proven fighter. But when she leads her forces to disaster in battle, her husband&’s court turns against her. Yet King Ine needs Æthel more than ever. Something dark and dangerous is at work in the Wessex court. His own brother seeks to usurp him. And their only hope is the magic in Ine&’s bloodline that&’s lain dormant since ancient days. The moment she and Æthel meet, Herla knows it&’s no coincidence. The dead kings are waking. The Otherworld seeks to rise, to bring the people of Britain under its dominion. And as Herla and Æthel grow closer, Herla must find her humanity—and a way to break the curse—before it&’s too late.The Weavers of Alamaxa: A Novel (The Alamaxa Duology #2)
By Hadeer Elsbai. 2024
Following up on one of the most exciting fantasy debuts, The Daughters of Izdihar, Hadeer Elsbai concludes her Alamaxa Duology—inspired…
by Egyptian history and myth—with a tale of magic, war, betrayal, sisterhood, and love.The world is on fire...but some women can control it.The Daughters of Izdihar—a group of women fighting for the vote and against the patriarchal rule of Parliament—have finally made strides in having their voices heard...only to find them drowned out by the cannons of the fundamentalist Ziranis. As long as Alamaxa continues to allow for the elemental magic of the weavers—and insist on allowing an academy to teach such things—the Zirani will stop at nothing to end what they perceive is a threat to not only their way of life, but the entire world.Two such weavers, Nehal and Giorgina, had come together despite their differences to grow both their political and weaving power. But after the attack, Nehal wakes up in a Zirani prison, and Giorgina is on the run in her besieged city. If they can reunite again, they can rally Alamaxa to fight off the encroaching Zirani threat. Yet with so much in their way—including a contingent of Zirani insurgents with their own ideas about rebellion—this will be no easy task.And the last time a weaver fought back, the whole world was shattered.Two incredible women are all that stands before an entire army. But they’ve fought against power before and won. This time, though, it’s no longer about rhetoric.This time it’s about magic and blood.Brave Like the Buffalo
By Melissa Allan. 2023
Brave Like the Buffalo is a children’s book with a message that will inspire all readers to face the storms…
in their life with the help of their support systems and with a brave mindset. Written by Melissa Allan and illustrated by Jadyn Fischer-McNab, this story uses a powerful animal, the buffalo, as a symbolic message and connection to Indigenous ways of knowing and being that helps to create a wonderful narrative rich with Indigenous ties and a heartwarming message around facing adversity. Brave Like the Buffalo is intended for audiences aged 0–6, to be used educationally as a way to intertwine Indigenous ways of knowing and being through story.Spells for Forgetting: the spellbinding magical mystery, perfect for winter nights
By Adrienne Young. 2022
'Spellbinding' JODI PICOULT'Bewitching' REBECCA ROSS'Exquisite' STEPHANIE GARBER'Captivating' SUE LYNN TAN'There were tales that only the island knew. Ones that had…
never been told. I knew, because I was one of them'Emery Blackwood's life was forever changed on the eve of her high school graduation, when the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her best friend, Lily. She'd once dreamt of running away with August, eager to escape the misty, remote shores of Saoirse Island and chase new dreams together. Now, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence among this tight-knit community steeped in folklore and tradition, ruled by the seasons and ancient superstitions.But when August returns after fourteen years to bury his mother's ashes, Emery must confront her first love and the reason he left so abruptly. But the town wants August gone again. And as the island begins to show signs of strange happenings, the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises threatens to reveal the truth behind Lily's death once and for all.Readers love Spells for Forgetting'A beautifully dark tale of magic and love' 5* reader review'Had me hooked from the start' 5* reader review'I adored this book' 5* reader review'Magical and mysterious and addictive' 5* reader reviewTHE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'Beautiful, atmospheric . . . you must read this book' 5* reader reviewIn…
the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm - and the mysterious curse that has haunted them for generations. The madness that led to Susanna Farrow's disappearance left her daughter, June, to be raised by her grandmother. Everyone in Jasper is certain it's only a matter of time before she finds the same end, but June has kept secret that her unravelling has already begun.After her grandmother's death, June follows a series of clues that link her mother's disappearance to the town's dark history, leading finally to a mysterious door.Behind it may lay the answer to the mysteries that have always lingered like a dark shadow. Upon crossing the threshold, June embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but entangle her fate and her heart in a star-crossed love.With The Unmaking of June Farrow, Adrienne Young delivers a brilliant story with romance, mystery, and a touch of the impossible: a story you will never forget.HEAR WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING ABOUT ADRIENNE YOUNG'Spellbinding' JODI PICOULT'Delightful' 5* READER REVIEW'Bewitching' REBECCA ROSS'Addictive' 5* READER REVIEW'Thrilling' STEPHANIE GARBER'Captivating' 5* READER REVIEW 'Immersive' SUE LYNN TANNorthumberland Folk Tales (Folk Tales: United Kingdom)
By Malcolm Green, Rachel Edwards. 2014
These folk tales reflect the wild and secret character of between two countries and two worlds. The book other magical…
characters such as the Netherwitton worm who guards a secret well and the Hedley Kow that plays audacious tricks on humans. Accompanying these, there is the sound of human feet; saints seek refuge, ancient kings fight for land and salvation, and border folk pit themselves against one another with both wit and sword. Illustrated with thirty beautiful and evocative drawings by Rachel Edwards, this panoply of characters, together with ghosts, witches and the land itself, is brought to life by professional storyteller Malcolm Green. Northumberland, a borderland abounds with stories of the mysterious fairy folk, along with.Djeha, the North African Trickster
By Christa C. Jones. 2023
Djeha—also known as Juha, Jeh’a, and Ch’ha, among many variations—is an iconic figure, the trickster hero of an oral folktale…
tradition that has existed for centuries. The famous Maghrebian prankster is a poor, cunning, and resourceful character that delights in immoral behavior. Orientalists Auguste Mouliéras (1855-1931) and René Basset (1855-1924) were among the first Frenchmen to collect and translate popular Berber folktales. Today, trickster folktales from Algeria’s mountainous Kabylia region are not well known in the Anglophone world, even though they continue to be highly popular in France and in North Africa. Djeha, the North African Trickster is an annotated, critical translation of Auguste Mouliéras’s folktale collection Les Fourberies de Si Djeh’a, first published in French in 1892.The volume contains sixty tales and an in-depth introduction in which Christa C. Jones discusses jocular literature in Islam, the widespread oral folktale tradition linked to Djeha and his Turkish twin brother Nasreddin Hoca, and the impact of colonialism on the gathering and dissemination of the tales. The trickster is at the center of six themed chapters: “Family and Kinship”; “Animal Tales"; “Faces, Places, or Daily Life in the Village"; “Foodways”; “The Intricacies of Hospitality: Beware of Friends and Foes!"; and “Religion, Death, and the Afterlife.” Each chapter contains ten folktales preceded by a short introduction that contextualizes the pieces using historical, folkloristic, literary, and ethnographical sources. Ultimately, the book contributes to the preservation of an ancestral oral heritage, delivering this enduring character to new audiences.The Bone Spindle: Book 3 (The Bone Spindle #3)
By Leslie Vedder. 2024
Two fighting partners. One monstrous prince. A last battle. The finale of The Bone Spindle, a fractured fairy tale based…
on Sleeping Beauty, with a m/f and a f/f romance. Perfect for fans of CINDERELLA IS DEAD.With Prince Briar Rose's life on the line as he slowly turns into a monster at the hands of the Spindle Witch, treasure hunter Fi must escape from a tower to rescue him.Meanwhile, her axe-wielding partner Shane is on the hunt for a mysterious weapon that holds the key to the Spindle Witch's demise. But Shane must also protect her lover, the beautiful witch Red, from the Spindle Witch's executioner.As tensions rise and partnerships crumble, Fi and Shane need to work together again, putting their treasure hunting skills to the test at the greatest lost ruin of them all - the tomb of the Witch Queen Aurora.Will they finally unravel the thread that ties them all together and defeat the Spindle Witch and her twisted creatures once and for all?Packed with kick-ass fight scenes and featuring two romantic storylines, this retelling of Sleeping Beauty is the spectacular finale to The Bone Spindle.Rapunzel in the City: Independent Reading Orange 6 (Reading Champion #1614)
By Katie Woolley. 2024
This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed…
with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE)In this retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale, Rapunzel is reimangined in a city and is locked up by a witch in a tower block. One day, a window cleaner with a ladder comes to help rescue Rapunzel ... Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure. Perfect for 5-7 year olds or those reading book band purple.The Queen's New Crown: Independent Reading Orange 6 (Reading Champion #1611)
By Damian Harvey. 2024
This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed…
with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE)In this new story based on The Emperor's New Clothes, a queen decides she wants a new crown for a parade. The two men making the crown present her with an empty cushion ... will anyone be brave enough to admit there nothing there? Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure. Perfect for 5-7 year olds or those reading book band purple 8.The Orange Lamb: Independent Reading Orange 6 (Reading Champion #517)
By Jackie Walter. 2024
This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed…
with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE) Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure. Perfect for 5-7 year olds.Bastard Bard (The Accidental Zodiacs)
By Cherron Riser. 2024
I do it for her. Rodrick had always lived life by the seat of his pants—party all night, sleep all…
day, and consequences be damned. He always knew he could be more but enjoyed his small-time rock star life. That was before his sister took ill. Finding her in a coma, Rodrick was faced with having to make a choice—lose his soul or lose his sister. There was no question what choice he would make. However, he hadn’t bargained for what his mission would be. He followed his orders but fought his internal turmoil as his new employer puppeted him around. Maybe if he could complete his tasks, his sister would be safe. Was there even hope for him once he stepped over the line to the Fallen side?Diary of a Big Bad Wolf
By Ben Miller. 2024
Your favourite fairytales from a BIG, BAD point of view. Pre-order the brand-new Fairytale Diary from bestselling author, Ben Miller,…
now! The big, bad wolf hasn&’t had a great winter. He's cold, lonely and hungry . . . But things are about to change - he&’s going to take the Fairytale Woods by STORM. But while he knows he&’s BIG and BAD, no one else seems to be scared of him, they just keep meddling with his plans – the troll under the bridge, the three annoying pigs, and that pesky Little Red Riding Hood! This is going to take all his brain power and his most cunning smile, to catch Grandma and reclaim his place at the top of the food chain! Turn the page, share the adventure in a hilarious and magical story for all the family, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli.Nocturne: A Novel
By Alyssa Wees. 2023
In this haunting, evocative fantasy set in 1930s Chicago, a talented ballerina finds herself torn between her dreams and her…
desires when she&’s pursued by a secretive patron who may be more than he seems.&“An utterly unique, lyrical play on the Persephone and Hades myth for fans of Neil Gaiman or Madeline Miller.&”—Booklist (starred review)Growing up in Chicago&’s Little Sicily in the years following the Great War, Grace Dragotta has always wanted to be a ballerina, ever since she first peered through the windows of the Near North Ballet company. So when Grace is orphaned, she chooses the ballet as her home, imagining herself forever ensconced in a transcendent world of light and beauty so different from her poor, immigrant upbringing. Years later, with the Great Depression in full swing, Grace has become the company&’s new prima ballerina—though achieving her long-held dream is not the triumph she once envisioned. Time and familiarity have tarnished that shining vision, and her new position means the loss of her best friend in the world. Then she attracts the attention of the enigmatic Master La Rosa as her personal patron and realizes the world is not as small or constricted as she had come to fear. Who is her mysterious patron, and what does he want from her? As Grace begins to unlock the Master&’s secrets, she discovers that there is beauty in darkness as well as light, finds that true friendship cannot be broken by time or distance, and realizes there may be another way entirely to achieve the transcendence she has always sought.A Touch of Chaos (Hades x Persephone Saga #7)
By Scarlett St. Clair. 2024
The world will burn in the final installment of Scarlett St. Clair's bestselling Hades X Persephone saga. The gods are…
at war, the Titans have been released, and Hades and Persephone must fight tooth and nail for their happy ending. Persephone, Goddess of Spring, never guessed that a chance encounter with Hades, God of the Underworld, would change her life forever—but he did. Now embroiled in a fight for humanity and battles between the gods, Persephone and Hades have entered a world they never thought they would see. To end the chaos, Persephone must draw upon her darkness and embrace who she's become—goddess, wife, queen of the Underworld. Once, Persephone made bargains to save those she loves. Now, she will go to war for them. New York Times Bestseller