The Spanish Fairy Book

The Spanish tradition of legends and folklore is rich and diverse, but far less generally familiar than that of Northern Europe. This selection of bewitching Spanish fairy tales will prove a delightful introduction to a wealth of stories with a distinctive Iberian flair.Readers of all ages will be charmed as virtue is rewarded, evil is punished, and love saves the day in such stories as "The Blue Lake," in which five children overcome a wicked magician with the help of the good Fairy Kindheart; "The Magic Gifts," and its sequel "The Enchanted Forest," in which young Gonzalito, assisted by magical animals, saves a princess and her kingdom from a wicked dwarf; "The Tinkling Laugh," the story of Princess Rosa's metamorphosis from a soul consumed by envy to a paragon of warmth and happiness; and "The Genie of the Mountain," and its sequel, "The Cave of the Emeralds," which tell of four princes on a quest for the hand of Princess Aurora. These and two additional tales, each presented in several episodes and all brimming with timeless allure, will captivate every reader with their charm, whimsy, and authentic Spanish flavor.