French Fairy Tales

French Fairy Tales gathers regional stories from across France, preserving the voice of peasant tradition while offering lively reading for children and folklore enthusiasts alike. From the haunting "Legend of the Lake of Issarlès," where a beggar revealed as Jesus rewards one honest woman and condemns a selfish village to a lake's depths, the collection moves through comic enchantment, moral judgment, and rustic wonder. In "The Fairies and the Two Hunchbacks," obedience wins a hunchback a fairy's favor while careless imitation brings punishment. "The Skilful Thief" follows Efflam, a poor young man whose magic hat and cloak help him steal from a king until he outwits every trap, robs the crown and even the princess, and ends in a royal double wedding. Other tales pit overlooked or clever commoners against power: Alain, the hunchbacked youngest son, triumphs in a quest for linen and exposes a hidden crime, while Fanch Scouarnec uses riddles, literal obedience, and outrageous wit to confound a lord's household. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.