James Gardner: The legend of the famous hero Robin Hood originates in dramatic pieces and ballads from the 15th century in England. His story has been given shape and retold through the centuries, and is still universally known to children nowadays. The Tales of Robin H

James Gardner: The Goose Girl is a German fairy tale in which a widowed queen sends her daugther to her bridegroom in a faraway land, only accompanied by a waiting maid and a magical talking horse. But the evil maid rebels and forces the princess into trading clothes wi

Gustave Flaubert: Dance of Death is a prose poem in which Death laments over the cruel task God has given him. Engaging in a dialogue with Satan, and later Nero as one of Satan’s first minions, Death suggests that of the two of them, Satan has the more enviable lot, as his

Guy de Maupassant: The Horla is the chilling tale of one man’s descent into madness. Maupassant established a reputation in France as an absolute master of the short story, before himself succumbing to the mental illness that ravaged his later life. This story is the terrif

Charles Perrault: The Fairies is a classic folk tale by Charles Perrault. Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters. The elder was often mistaken for her mother, so like her was she both in nature and in looks. Both of them were so disagreeable and arrogant

Brothers Grimm: A very ancient folk tale, often copied and translated, found in Grimm’s compilation of fairy tales. This is a moral tale about a poor shoemaker who receives unexpected help when he thinks he won’t be able to make it: elves come into his house and shoulder