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A fascinating collection of some of the great - but less well known - fairy tales of all time.

'The Parrot' is the tale of a newlywed couple. Soon after the marriage, the husband must go away on business, so he gives his wife a parrot to keep her company while he is away. But another man sees the young wife at the window and falls in love with her. He engages the help of the woman who lives downstairs to try to seduce the young wife. But each time the woman is on the point of going with her neighbour, the parrot offers to tell her a story. So enchanting and absorbing are the parrot's tales that the young wife never leaves the house until her husband's return.

Peter Christen Asbjørnsen (1812-1885) was a Norwegian writer, scholar and collector of traditional folktales. Peter Gynt is the story of a hunter who gets the better of a group of trolls who like to take over peoples' farms.

Maurice Baring (1874-1945) was an English short story writer, children's writer, novelist, travel writer and war correspondent during the First World War. This is a collection of six of the magical fairy stories he wrote for children.

Three princes are sent on a quest by their father, to find who it is who steals the golden apples from the King's tree. The youngest son befriends a wolf who is in reality a magician. From the wolf he learns that a magical golden bird is the thief. In attempting to steal the golden bird, the prince is captured by its owner, the Emperor. The latter agrees to spare the prince's life if he can steal the golden horse from the ruler of the neighbouring kingdom. In attempting to do this the prince is again captured.

'The Wise Princess' is a take on the traditional Russian fairy tale of the frog princess. Three princes are instructed by their father, the king, to fire their arrows at random and marry whichever maidens they land near to. The youngest son's arrow lands in a marsh next to a frog. But the frog turns out to be a wise princess in disguise - and when the prince sees the princess in her true form he falls in love with her. One night when the princess is not wearing her frog skin, the princes takes it and burns it.

'The Donkey Skin' is a strange fairy tale of a princess who escapes an unwanted marriage by running away from the palace dressed in a donkey skin, to a hard life of poverty as a hen-wife. When a young prince happens to catch a glimpse of her without her donkey skin, he falls in love with her. But how is he to find the beautiful maiden again?

When the youngest of three sons inherits only a cat, he believes he is destined to die of starvation. But the cat turns out to be rather an extraordinary animal. Not only is he able to speak, he is also a highly resourceful and cunning creature. The cat asks for a pair of boots and a sack. He uses the sack to catch rabbits and partridges which he presents to the King as gifts from the "Marquis of Carabas". The King is curious to meet the mysterious Marquis who sends such generous gifts.

The year is 1870. The elderly Colonel Jouve has suffered a medical collapse and is confined to his bed. It is uncertain whether or not he will pull through. His granddaughter takes over his care. Then one day, news reaches Paris of military successes in the war against Prussia. Colonel Jouve senses the optimism in the air and his health begins to improve. Almost immediately further news reaches Paris. The previous news was wrong - in fact the French are being beaten back.

Herbert George Wells (1866-1946) was a prolific English writer, now best remembered for his science fiction novels and often credited as being the father of science fiction. 'The Inexperienced Ghost' is a ghost story with a twist. Clayton, overnighting alone at a club, encounters a pathetic ghost who is struggling to remember how to get back to the spirit world. With Clayton's help he finally works out the precise method for crossing out of our world into the next.

A delightful collection of classic poems that will delight young and old alike, including: "How Beauty Contrived to Get Square with the Beast" by Guy Wetmore Carryl, "How Little Red Riding Hood Contrived to Be Eaten" by Guy Wetmore Carryl, "How Rudeness and Kindness Were Justly Rewarded" by Guy Wetmore Carryl, "If No One Ever Marries Me" by Lawrence Alma TademaI’m, "Nobody, Who Are You?" by Emily Dickinson, "Lochinvar" by Sir Walter Scott, "The Akond of Swat" by Edward Lear, and more.

Kipling’s classic tale taken from the Just So Stories. In the old days, the Rhinoceros's skin used to fit him quite tightly... but after getting cake crumbs inside it, Rhino was forced to scratch himself - and his skin got baggier and his temper grumpier.

Harry Graham was an English writer of light verse, popular fiction and history. He is best remembered for his grotesque and humorous verses which parody the children’s cautionary verses of his day. His most successful work was his series of hilariously cruel Ruthless Rhymes, first published in 1898 under the pseudonym Col. D. Streamer. Billy in one of his nice new sashes, Fell in the fire and was burnt to ashes; Now, although the room grows chilly, I haven’t the heart to poke poor Billy.

A delightful collection of seven short stories narrated by cats, by the brilliant Edith Nesbit, each of which sheds a new light on our relationship with our furry friends.

Written in 1867, The Magic Fishbone is one of Charles Dickens' best loved fairy tales for children. It tells the story of an impoverished King who can barely manage to keep his nineteen children, and it is a long time until pay day. One day he meets a Fairy Godmother who tells him to give his eldest daughter, Princess Alicia, a piece of salmon, and after she has eaten everything but the bone, she is to dry and polish the bone carefully because it has magic powers.

Kipling’s classic tale taken from the Just So Stories. When all the other animals become tame, the cat is reluctant to give up his independence. He devises a clever scheme to gain a seat by the fire and a saucer of cream without having to submit to man.

First published in 1899, The Story of the Treasure Seekers tells the tale of the Bastable children, Dora, Oswald, Dickie, Noel, Alice and H.O. (short for Horace Octavius) and their attempts to restore the fallen fortunes of their family. They devise a series of plans to find or make money, varying from digging for treasure to being bandits, from going into business to rescuing rich elderly gentlemen from deadly peril.

Frances Browne (1816-1879) was an Irish poet and novelist who is best remembered for her enchanting stories for children, published under the title of Granny's Wonderful Chair. The collection tells the story of Snowflower, a little girl left alone in the world with a magical chair belonging to her absent grandmother, which can take her wherever she wants to go and can tell her marvellous stories.

Kipling’s classic tale taken from the Just So Stories. Neolithic cave girl Taffy tries to send a pictorial letter home when her father breaks his fishing spear, but her message is hilariously misinterpreted, and a series of misunderstandings follows.

Sophie, Countess of Segur was a Russian-born French writer who lived from 1799 to 1874. This collection of stories draws on the rich heritage of French medieval literature, courtly love, magic charms and gallant deeds. In each story, the hero or heroine must undertake a quest or overcome a series of impossible challenges in order to reach their goal - often with the aid of magic. The stories are remarkably vibrant and well written, containing many elements of surprise and humour as well as chivalry and courtly romance.