Description
By Svend Grundtvig. Translated by Gustav Hein. Enter a magical world of trolls, enchanted kingdoms, hidden treasures, and timeless wonder in this classic collection of Scandinavian folklore.
In Danish Fairy Tales, renowned folklorist Svend Grundtvig presents a rich treasury of traditional tales gathered from the oral storytelling traditions of Denmark. Filled with adventure, mystery, humor, and imagination, these stories preserve the legends and folk beliefs that were passed down through generations in villages, farms, and fireside gatherings across the Danish countryside.
Within these pages readers will encounter brave princes and clever peasants, wicked trolls lurking in forests and hills, magical creatures, talking animals, enchanted castles, and mysterious journeys into the supernatural world. Rooted in the traditions of Scandinavian folklore, the tales reflect the values, fears, and imagination of ordinary people while revealing a world where courage, wit, kindness, and perseverance often triumph over darkness and danger.
Unlike literary fairy tales created for the page, these stories arose from centuries of oral tradition, giving them an authentic connection to the folk culture of Denmark and the wider Nordic world. Grundtvig, one of the great pioneers of Scandinavian folklore studies, helped preserve these traditional narratives at a time when many old customs and stories were rapidly disappearing.
Written in a lively and engaging style, Danish Fairy Tales continues to enchant readers of all ages with its blend of fantasy, wonder, and cultural heritage. The collection offers both entertaining storytelling and a fascinating glimpse into the mythic imagination of nineteenth-century Denmark.
This carefully restored reprint revives a beloved classic of European folklore for modern audiences. Ideal for lovers of fairy tales, mythology, folklore, and Scandinavian culture, Danish Fairy Tales remains a timeless journey into the magical world of the North.
About the author: Svend Grundtvig (1824–1883) was a Danish philologist, folklorist, and collector of traditional ballads and folk tales, and the son of the famous theologian N. F. S. Grundtvig.
He played a major role in preserving Denmark’s oral traditions and became one of the leading figures in nineteenth-century Scandinavian folklore scholarship.
Contents
Willy Faith
The Lass of Söndervand
The Wishing-Box
Olaf the Mermaid’s Son
The Miserly Squire
The Roe Deer Princess
Prince Irregang and Maid Miseri
The Three Red Piggies
The Dumb Queen
The Wise Queen
For Three Shillings
The Cobbler’s Lad
The Raven of Salby
The Most Obedient Wife
Virtue Its Own Reward
Faithful Svend
Health and Happiness
The School of Black Art
About the author: Svend Hersleb Grundtvig (1824–1883) was one of Denmark’s leading literary historians and ethnographers. Apart from his interest in folklore, he also specialized in Danish traditional music.
