Best-loved Folktales of the World by Joanna Cole

Best-loved Folktales of the World

Joanna Cole

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group · Print & ebook · August 9, 1983

A Folklore pick for readers exploring Best-loved Folktales of the World.

Buy on Amazon

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
Move between familiar fairy-tale classics and stories from traditions around the world.
Themes
Oral traditions across cultures, Universal human dilemmas, Magic and enchantment
Genres
Fairy Tales & Myths, Short Story Anthologies, Fantasy Anthologies

About this book

This collection of over two hundred folk and fairy tales from all over the world is the only edition that encompasses all cultures. Arranged geographically by region—West and East Europe, British Isles, Scandinavia, and Northern Europe, Middle East, Asia, the Pacific, Africa, North America, the Carribean and West Indies, and Central and South America—and lovingly selected from the personal favorites of folklorists and writers, this book is a major anthology in its field.

Continue reading

Gathered together in this wide-ranging collection are familiar classics like "Snow-White" and "Sleeping Beauty," and stories that equal them from all major cultures. Together they offer magic, adventure, laughter, reflection, vivid images, and a throng of colorful characters. More important, they offer insight into the oral traditions of different cultures and deal with universal human dilemmas that span differences of age, culture, and geography. Animal fables, proverbs, ghost stories, funny tales, and tales of enchantment provide a unique reading experience for all ages. A category index groups the tales by plot and character, e.g., humorous, supernatural, and "pourquoi" tales, married couples, enchanted sweethearts, etc. Like all great literature, these tales can be read with fascination on many levels, making Best-Loved Folktales of the World a classic and enduring collection.

Many Worlds, Many Tales

Move between familiar fairy-tale classics and stories from traditions around the world.

Come here for

  • A wide-ranging mix of animal fables, ghost stories, humor, and enchantment
  • Tales that offer vivid images and insight into oral traditions

Expect

  • Stories arranged by geographic region, with a category index
  • Magic, laughter, adventure, and human dilemmas across cultures

Where it sits

Fairy Tales & Myths79%
Short Story Anthologies61%
Fantasy Anthologies37%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Short Story Anthologies
  • Paranormal Fantasy
  • Fairy Tales & Myths
Authors
Joanna Cole
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published
August 9, 1983
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Oral traditions across cultures · Universal human dilemmas · Magic and enchantment
Reading lane
Short Story Anthologies