The Shoemaker’s Apron

“Children who have exhausted the novelty of other collections will find in these a new source of delight.” -New York Evening Post

This rich collection of twenty Czech fairy tales will whisk the reader to a world of magical animals, witches, kings, queens, and enchantment. For anyone interested in the classic regional fairy tales of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, this treasury of stories offers a glimpse into the folk literature and culture of the regions. The Shoemaker’s Apron is the golden key to open the door into the meanings of traditional stories that differ in details, but are broadly similar in motifs from Ireland to India. Though on the surface they appear to deal mostly with the extraordinary rise in fortune of a humble hero or heroine through winning out over daunting forces (wicked relatives, monsters, dragons, witches, or powerful enemies), their functions, meanings, and origins have tantalized scholars in many disciplines. Filled with humor and charm, these stories are sure to delight children and adults alike.

A collection of twenty stories, drawn from original sources, and chosen for their variety of subject and range of interest. Here are fairy tales conceived with all the gorgeousness of the Slavic imagination; charming little nursery tales that might be told in nurseries the world over; folk tales illustrative of the wit of a canny people; and rollicking devil tales as surprising to the Anglo Saxon imagination as they are entertaining.


Contens:


The Twelve Months: The Story of Marushka and the Wicked Holena


Zlatovlaska the Golden-haired: The Story of Yirik and the Snake


The Shepherd's Nosegay: The Story of the Princess Who Learned to say "Please"


Vitazko the Victorious: The Story of a Hero Whose Mother Loved a Dragon


Five Nursery Tales:


I.Kuratko the Terrible: The Story of an Ungrateful Chick


II.Smolicheck: The Story of a Little Boy Who Opened the Door


III.Budulinek: The Story of Another Little Boy Who Opened the Door


IV.The Dear Little Hen: The Story of a Rooster that Cheated


V.The Disobedient Rooster: The Story of Another Little Hen


The Nickerman's Wife: The Story of Lidushka and the Imprisoned Doves


Batcha and the Dragon: The Story of a Shepherd Who Slept all Winter


Clever Manka: The Story of a Girl Who Knew What to Say


The Blacksmith's Stool: The Story of a Man Who Found that Death was Necessary


A Gullible World: The Story of a Man Who Didn't Beat His Wife


The Candles of Life: The Story of a Child for Whom Death Stood Godmother


The Devil's Gifts: The Story of a Man Whom the Devil Befriended


Gentle Dora: The Story of a Devil Who Married a Scold


The Devil's Match: The Story of a Farmer Who Remembered What His Grandmother Told Him


The Devil's Little Brother-in-law: The Story of a Youth Who Couldn't Find Work


The Shoemaker's Apron: The Story of the Man Who Sits Near the Golden Gate