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These wise and charming folk tales are as different from the familiar stories of the brothers Grimm as a sunny Anjou vineyard is from a dank Teutonic troll-ridden forest. They spring directly from the heart of the French people and they have the freshness and sparkle of a glass of Normandy cider.
There is a great variety of stories in the collection. They range from the traditional and touching fables handed down almost intact from the days of the troubadours to the many examples of peasant philosophy couched in a sly and often earthy humor.
In all of them, the presence of the smiling French countryside is very real and very close. The Ogre is fussy about the excellence of his onion soup, the Devil could pass for a rather sharp trader from the city who has an enviable savoir-faire, and even the Good Lord himself likes a well-roasted chicken and a glass of good. It is obvious that He has a sense of humor and a special affection for the clever farmer who always ends up on top.
This first comprehensive collection of French folk and fairy tales ever made is a landmark in the folklore field. The author traveled for three years and combed the whole of France to obtain representative stories from every corner of the country. His fine ear for language and comedy is displayed on every page; and Mary Mian, who selected the cream of Henri Pourrat's collection, has retained all the gaiety, the ebullience, the very French flavor of the original in her excellent translation. The collection should take a favored place on the bookshelf with the timeless classics loved by children and grown people alike.
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