British Fairy Tales

While fairy tales were not originally intended for children, they have become a staple of children's literature since the early 19th century. Here is a collection of English fairy tales, including many stories you will remember from childhood.

Here are three of Oscar Wilde's classic fairy tales, including "The Happy Prince", "The Selfish Giant", and "The Nightingale and the Rose".

George MacDonald, described by W.H. Auden as "one of the most remarkable writers of the 19th century", was valued in his own time as an original thinker and spiritual guide. Of all his writing, it is the fairy tales that have retained their fascination, and this collection includes all 11 stories. The fairy tales feature the stock characters of traditional tales—fairies both good and bad, and children undertaking precarious journeys. Often adopting paradox and nonsense as Lewis Carroll did, the stories invite adults to deploy the same open-mindedness as children.

Hans Christian Andersen was the profoundly imaginative writer and storyteller who revolutionized literature for children. He gave us the now standard versions of some traditional fairy tales—with an anarchic twist—but many of his most famous tales sprang directly from his imagination. The 30 stories here range from exuberant early works such as "The Tinderbox" and "The Emperor's New Clothes" through poignant masterpieces such as "The Little Mermaid" and "The Ugly Duckling", to more subversive later tales such as "The Ice Maiden" and "The Wood Nymph".

George Brisbane Scott Douglas (1856-1935), the Scottish poet and writer, published the book Scottish Fairy and Folk Tales in 1901. The literary genres of the book include comic, literary, nursery, and animal stories plus fairy tales of mythic creatures like the brownies, bogles, kelpies, and mermaids. Classified, tabulated, and scientifically labelled, these imaginative narratives are related in vernacular language, and have a timeless appeal to adults and children alike. Amongst the most popular stories are "The Fox’s Stratagem", and "The Bee and the Mouse".

Miss Mildred Percy is a spinster. She does not dance, she has long stopped dreaming, and she certainly does not have adventures. That is, until her great uncle has the audacity to leave her an inheritance, one that includes a dragon’s egg. The egg—as eggs are wont to do—decides to hatch, and Miss Mildred Percy is suddenly thrust out of the role of “spinster and general wallflower” and into the unprecedented position of “spinster and keeper of dragons.” But England has not seen a dragon since…well, ever.

Joseph Jacobs (1854-1916) was a prominent member of the English Folklore Society. English Fairy Tales is a collection of 87 classic English fairy tales collected and edited by Jacobs who had spent 10 years collecting them from written and oral sources. His style was chosen to appeal to young people.

In the ancient kingdom of Dumnonia, there is old magic to be found in the whisper of the wind, the roots of the trees, the curl of the grass. King Cador knew this once, but now the land has turned from him, calling instead to his three children. Riva can cure others, but can’t seem to heal her own deep scars. Keyne battles to be accepted for who he truly is—the king’s son. And Sinne dreams of seeing the world, of finding adventure.

Their lives have all the trappings of a fairytale. He is the proud, hardworking son of Sicilian immigrants. She is a pampered southern belle. When they meet, the Rossis of San Francisco and the Posatas of New Orleans have risen to become two powerful families with roots dating back for generations. And from the moment she sees him, Catherine Posata makes up her mind to marry tall, dark, and handsome Harvard Law student Dominic Rossi.

Watch out for cats in boots, three bears who live in the woods and strange unicorns in this magical collection of short stories by Enid Blyton. From lost slippers and fairy curses to imps without names and a dragon called Mr Wumble, there's fairy magic brewing. Who will live happily ever after? These traditional tales are ideal for younger children and for new listeners. Each story stands alone and is the perfect length for listening at bedtime or in the classroom.

It wasn't all musketeers, mysterious ladies, poisoned gloves, and palace intrigue.... Sometimes, Alexandre Dumas stepped back from historic misadventures and wrote fairy tales - and a very good job he did of it, too.

Even among the Celtic nations with their noble tradition of bards and story-tellers, the Welsh stand out for the sheer weight and number of their stories. Drawn from many sources including the great book of 'The Mabinogion1, traditional Celtic mythology, and local folklore this collection of tales has been adapted by popular children's author Faye Saxeby and brought to life in an enchantingly warm reading by the lovely Welsh actress Angharad Rees.

For centuries, beautifully illustrated fairy-tale volumes have rested innocently on kids' night tables around the world, long ago relegated to the dubious honor of being branded as "children's literature". But every story is a file packed with information, and Cinderella, Snow White, Puss in Boots, and Bluebeard have always intimated that perhaps they have more to tell besides "beautiful" stories, the same ones that animated the minds of several generations of children.

The second installment of the British Empire of Magic trilogy finds Jacob, now king of the British Empire of Magic, and his imperial city still under siege from Thomas, king of the Dark Knights and his American allies. Jacob devises a plan to rescue his father from the White Islands and sends his partner, Co-Regent Lord Elliot, to Dover Cliff to retrieve the members of Parliament before King Thomas can find them and take complete control of the empire, but Jacob and Elliot grow suspicious that a traitor could be at the highest level within the Royal Council.

Enjoy strange and wondrous stories inspired by folklore from various corners of the world, carefully assembled and adapted by a Russian writer and political journalist Nikolai Teleshov.

A splendid collection of both well loved and little known fairy stories which have entertained and delighted children for many generations.

The English writer and scholar Joseph Jacobs travelled the land collecting and recording every traditional English story he could find. Many of these stories are similar to well-known European stories but the English tales have a distinctive wit and humour of their very own.

A collection of English fairy tales taking you into a magical world of wit and mystery. Learn about Simpleton and how he succeeded in a tough situation where his older brother failed. Find out how one little piglet outwitted the streetwise old, grey wolf. A crafty cat, Puss, saves the life of his master and befriends the mighty Marquis Carabas. The collection includes some of the most memorable tales, such as 'The Golden Goose', 'The Three Little Pigs', 'Puss in Boots', 'The Three Bears', and 'Tom Thumb'.

Beowulf is a brave and mighty warrior, known to have the strength of 30 men. At home in Geatland, Beowulf hears about the terrible troubles of his father's friend, Hrothgar, the king of the Danes. Hrothgar's land is plagued by Grendel, a vicious monster who attacks the Danes by night. Beowulf sets sail to aid Hrothgar and the Danes. But is Beowulf strong enough to slay the monstrous Grendel? And even if he succeeds, what other dangers lie ahead for the warrior-hero?

A gift for all those who love fairy tales....