Ranging from the ribald to the romantic, from the rustic to the mythical, these are lively translations of 150 tales drawn from unique sources including the Swedish National Folklore Archives and numerous private collections, while the humorous and dramatic illustrations are gathered from classic volumes of Swedish folktales. Lone Thygesen Blecher's engaging introduction details the purpose and background of folktales and legends as well as the history of their collection. This distinctive selection presents the storytelling artistry of Sweden's lush folkloric tradition.

    Jane Langton's spellbinding text captures all the drama and romance of this Swedish folktale, while Ilse Plume's lavishly detailed paintings draw the reader right into the heart of this story of good triumphing over evil. Full color.