Old French Fairy Tales


Book Description

This 1920 collection includes five timeless French fairy tales written by Comtesse De Segur and illustrated by the 19 year old Virginia Sterrett.




Folklore Figures of French and Creole Louisiana


Book Description

In Folklore Figures of French and Creole Louisiana, Nathan J. Rabalais examines the impact of Louisiana’s remarkably diverse cultural and ethnic groups on folklore characters and motifs during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Establishing connections between Louisiana and France, West Africa, Canada, and the Antilles, Rabalais explores how folk characters, motifs, and morals adapted to their new contexts in Louisiana. By viewing the state’s folklore in the light of its immigration history, he demonstrates how folktales can serve as indicators of sociocultural adaptation as well as contact among cultural communities. In particular, he examines the ways in which collective traumas experienced by Louisiana’s major ethnic groups—slavery, the grand dérangement, linguistic discrimination—resulted in fundamental changes in these folktales in relation to their European and African counterparts. Rabalais points to the development of an altered moral economy in Cajun and Creole folktales. Conventional heroic qualities, such as physical strength, are subverted in Louisiana folklore in favor of wit and cunning. Analyses of Black Creole animal tales like those of Bouki et Lapin and Tortie demonstrate the trickster hero’s ability to overcome both literal and symbolic entrapment through cleverness. Some elements of Louisiana’s folklore tradition, such as the rougarou and cauchemar, remain an integral presence in the state’s cultural landscape, apparent in humor, popular culture, regional branding, and children’s books. Through its adaptive use of folklore, French and Creole Louisiana will continue to retell old stories in innovative ways as well as create new stories for future generations.




Cajun and Creole Folktales


Book Description

This teeming compendium of tales assembles and classifies the abundant lore and storytelling prevalent in the French culture of southern Louisiana. This is the largest, most diverse, and best annotated collection of French-language tales ever published in the United States. Side by side are dual-language retellings—the Cajun French and its English translation—along with insightful commentaries. This volume reveals the long and lively heritage of the Louisiana folktale among French Creoles and Cajuns and shows how tale-telling in Louisiana through the years has remained vigorous and constantly changing. Some of the best storytellers of the present day are highlighted in biographical sketches and are identified by some of their best tales. Their repertory includes animal stories, magic stories, jokes, tall tales, Pascal (improvised) stories, and legendary tales—all of them colorful examples of Louisiana narrative at its best. Though greatly transformed since the French arrived on southern soil, the French oral tradition is alive and flourishing today. It is even more complex and varied than has been shown in previous studies, for revealed here are African influences as well as others that have been filtered from America's multicultural mainstream.




Folktales and Fairy Tales [4 volumes]


Book Description

Encyclopedic in its coverage, this one-of-a-kind reference is ideal for students, scholars, and others who need reliable, up-to-date information on folk and fairy tales, past and present. Folktales and fairy tales have long played an important role in cultures around the world. They pass customs and lore from generation to generation, provide insights into the peoples who created them, and offer inspiration to creative artists working in media that now include television, film, manga, photography, and computer games. This second, expanded edition of an award-winning reference will help students and teachers as well as storytellers, writers, and creative artists delve into this enchanting world and keep pace with its past and its many new facets. Alphabetically organized and global in scope, the work is the only multivolume reference in English to offer encyclopedic coverage of this subject matter. The four-volume collection covers national, cultural, regional, and linguistic traditions from around the world as well as motifs, themes, characters, and tale types. Writers and illustrators are included as are filmmakers and composers—and, of course, the tales themselves. The expert entries within volumes 1 through 3 are based on the latest research and developments while the contents of volume 4 comprises tales and texts. While most books either present readers with tales from certain countries or cultures or with thematic entries, this encyclopedia stands alone in that it does both, making it a truly unique, one-stop resource.




Louisiana Folk-tales


Book Description




Best-Loved Folktales of the World


Book Description

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. 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.




Folk Tales from France


Book Description

Discover the Enchantment of France’s Most Timeless Folk Tales Step into a world where dark secrets lurk behind castle walls, where fearsome creatures roam ancient forests, and where the power of love, courage, and wisdom triumphs over evil. Folk Tales from France: Classic Legends of Magic, Mystery, and Moral Lessons is a captivating collection of France’s most cherished folk tales, brought together in a beautifully crafted volume that will transport readers of all ages into the heart of French culture and tradition. In this first installment of our Folk Tales from France series, you will journey alongside unforgettable characters like Bluebeard, whose dark past hides unspeakable horrors; the fearsome Tarasque, a beast so terrifying that only the purest of souls can tame it; and the noble Saint Nicolas, whose miraculous deeds have inspired generations. Encounter enchanted gardens where time stands still, fairies who can grant wishes—or curses—and a mysterious white doe whose tragic fate will move you to tears. A Treasure Trove of Timeless Wisdom These are more than just stories; they are the distilled teachings of human culture, brimming with profound knowledge and timeless wisdom. Each tale is a pleasure to read, filled with universal themes of bravery, kindness, humility, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Perfect for readers of all ages, these folk tales offer not only entertainment but also a unique window into the values, fears, and aspirations of the French people. At the heart of this collection is a mission to preserve the invaluable cultural inheritance that these stories represent. Folk tales are the foundation of human storytelling—understanding a culture is best done through the stories it tells. This volume invites you to explore a rich tapestry of French tradition, offering insights that resonate across generations. A Must-Have for Any Library or Bookshelf We envision this collection as a treasure that any library or bookshelf can hold and pass on to future generations—so they too can be inspired and draw wisdom from our ancestors' stories. Whether you’re a lover of mythology, a seeker of adventure, or a parent wanting to introduce your children to the wonders of storytelling, this book is an essential addition to your collection. Key Features: Classic French Legends: Immerse yourself in the rich folklore of France, with stories that have been passed down through centuries, capturing the essence of the country’s cultural heritage. Perfect for All Ages: With tales that are as enchanting as they are educational, this collection is suitable for readers young and old, offering something for everyone. Cultural Insight: Gain a deeper understanding of French culture and values through interpretations and analyses of the folk tales that have shaped the nation’s identity. Beautifully Crafted: Designed to be a timeless keepsake, this book is a treasure that will enhance any personal library or bookshelf. Folk Tales from France is more than just a book; it’s a journey into the heart of a culture, a celebration of the art of storytelling, and a preservation of a priceless cultural heritage. Add this volume to your collection today and become part of the timeless tradition of folk tales that continue to inspire, teach, and connect us to the world and ourselves.




Creole Folktales (Large Print 16pt)


Book Description

In this unusual collection of stories and fables, Goncourt prize-winner Patrick Chamoiseau re-creates in truly magical language the stories he heard as a child in Martinique....




Fairy Tales for the Disillusioned


Book Description

"The present volume contains thirty-five fairy tales by nineteen writers, presented chronologically by author"--Introduction.




Quackling: A Feathered Fairy Tale


Book Description

"One can never have too many friends." Quackling was proud when the King came to him to borrow money. But years passed, and the King never paid him back! So, he took his sack and started for the castle. But a very small duck will need very good friends when he gets there! Will Quackling get what he wants, or something even better? Find out in this lively, rhythmic retelling of a favorite European folk tale. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Legend of Lightning Larry," "The Sea King's Daughter," and many more children's books. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Wendy Edelson is the award-winning illustrator of "The Baker's Dozen," "Christmas Truce," and many more children's books. She has applied her talent to a wide range of illustration projects, including picture books, pet portraits, posters, and puzzles. Among her clients have been Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the U.S. Postal Service, Cricket Magazine, McGraw-Hill Education, and the American Library Association. //////////////////////////////////////////////// "[A] lively folktale retelling . . . Edelson enhances the allegorical tale, about goodness and honoring commitments, with striking renderings of anthropomorphic animals." -- Publishers Weekly, July 30, 2018 /////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE Once there was a very small duck with a very loud quack. So they called him Quackling. Now, Quackling was clever and he worked hard, so he saved up a good deal of money. In fact, he saved up so much that the King himself came to borrow some. Quackling was proud to loan his money to the King. But a year went by, then two, then three, and the King never paid him back. "I've waited long enough," said Quackling. So he took a sack for the money, and he started for the castle, calling, "Quack! Quack! Quack! I want my money back!" Before long, he came upon a ladder leaning against a wall. "Where are you going, Quackling?" said Ladder. "To the King for my money," said Quackling. "To the King!" said Ladder. "How wonderful! Will you take me with you?" "Why not?" said Quackling. "One can never have too many friends." And he called out, "Quack! Quack! Quack! Ladder into sack!" Quick as you can blink, Ladder was in the sack. Then Quackling walked on, calling, "Quack! Quack! Quack! I want my money back!"