Another collection of fairy tales dating from my sixth Christmas, a gift from my mother.   This one has exuberant illustrations by Anton Kolnberger, whimsical and bright, and like many children’s stories, it covers the full spectrum of human splendour and squalor.

I just re-read this some 50 years after the first reading, as part of the 1000 fairy tale project.   I loved poring over the images and text, re-acquainting myself with the likes of Lazy Bart (see below), or the three greedy sisters (carousing in the image above), or darling Rosalie, among others.

See also my homage to a recently rediscovered Japanese legend.  And the splendidly illustrated Pied Piper of Hamlin which is part of the project to learn 1,000 poems by heart. 

Source: Once Upon a Time and Far Away, retold by Edna Collins, illus. by Anton Kolnberger (London: Odhams Books, 1968)