NA

Dover reprint of 1888 book of child's stories.

The Kindle version is riddled with misprints and lacks illustrations. I'm fond of the quasi-arcane diction; I'm guessing the stories are Pyle's variations on traditional folk tales; they aren't as brutal as the traditional versions, although there is one anti-Semitic line, and Angela Carter would have a good time subverting the female roles. Ah, but the prose is so pretty. I would read a story or two as a break from more serious stuff. i'll add a print version with illustrations to my wish list. Recommended, but not as an e-book. ( )

Completely charming, both the stories and the illustrations. In some ways this is an early example of a "mash-up," because Pyle borrows and re-combines story elements from many sources. Bright young readers and adults should enjoy the book equally. The stories are good for reading aloud, too; the droll repetitive patterns (many groups of three!) are very effective orally. ( )

A collection of fairy tales written as only Howard Pyle can write. Of course they are extremely politically incorrect, full of witches, dwarves and such, but morally they are right on. Love triumphs over greed and kindness wins all. ( )