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a less whimsical illustration that encapsulates the fun of searching an archive of over 15

The Archive...

Have a wander through the Fireside folktale archive below, and see what you stumble into. Use the filters to narrow the world down, or fling the doors wide and browse by country, region, theme, collector, or whatever takes your fancy, then let the table do the rest. A few clicks can carry you from storm-tossed coasts to mountain villages, from clever tricksters to quiet miracles, and you will often find that the story you meant to read is not the one that chooses you.

Archive under construction...

Structured Filters

  • Use these drop down lists to choose one or more filters to select groups of tales to investigate in more detail

Other than my own versions of tales (as indicated), the stories in this archive are in the public domain

Stories in this view:

3988

Title
Book
Author / Collector
Country
Subject
Year
The Small People's Fair
North Cornwall Fairies and Legends
Enys Tregarthen
England
The Small People’s Fair: fairy revelry, stolen children, vanished enchantment, mortal danger.
1906
The Fairy Whirlwind
North Cornwall Fairies and Legends
Enys Tregarthen
England
The Fairy Whirlwind: beauty envied, fairy abduction, changeling sorrow, sudden loss.
1906
The Tortoise
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Tortoise: Patience, hidden identity, and surprising agency.
1920
The Conflagration
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Conflagration: Destruction, panic, and survival through courage.
1920
Second Day Of The Festival
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Second Day Of The Festival: Display, rivalry, and growing admiration.
1920
The Wild Boar
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Wild Boar: Brutal threat, bravery, and confrontation.
1920
The Journey And Arrival
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Journey And Arrival: Transition, expectation, and entry into danger.
1920
The Fairy Detestable
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Fairy Detestable: Cruel enchantment, tyranny, and corruption.
1920
The Casket
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Casket: Hidden power, secrecy, and revelation.
1920
Blondine Lost
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Blondine Lost: Wandering, deception, disobedience, and separation.
1920
Family Council
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Family Council: Envy, pride, and scheming against innocence.
1920
The Crow, The Cock, And The Frog
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Crow, The Cock, And The Frog: Comic contrast, rivalry, and animal symbolism.
1920
The Little House
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Little House: Humble refuge, loneliness, and hidden magic.
1920
The Prince Gracious
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Prince Gracious: Nobility, kindness, and earned love.
1920
The Dream
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Dream: Prophecy, warning, and hidden truth.
1920
The Vintage
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Vintage: Work, abundance, and rustic joy.
1920
Blondine
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Blondine: Innocence, parental love, loss, and perilous temptation.
1920
The Combat
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Combat: Heroism, struggle, and triumph over evil.
1920
Third And Last Day Of The Festival
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Third And Last Day Of The Festival: Final testing, revelation, and decisive change.
1920
Blondine's Second Awakening
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Blondine’s Second Awakening: Renewal, repentance, and restored understanding.
1920
The Toad Again
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Toad Again: Returning evil, menace, and persistence.
1920
The Fishing
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Fishing: Patience, livelihood, and quiet domestic happiness.
1920
The Recompense
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Recompense: Virtue rewarded after trial, courage, and suffering.
1920
Blondine's Awakening—Beau-Minon
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Blondine’s Awakening—Beau-Minon: Rescue, awakening, and loyal friendship.
1920
The Plant Of Life
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Plant Of Life: Healing quest, hope, and salvation.
1920
The Well
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Well: Peril, rescue, and fateful turning.
1920
The Farm—The Castle—The Forge
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Farm—The Castle—The Forge: Journey through labour, rank, and transformation.
1920
The Sacrifice
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Sacrifice: Selflessness, love, and redemptive suffering.
1920
Rosette At The Court Of The King Her Father
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Rosette At The Court Of The King Her Father: Courtly jealousy, neglect, and hidden worth.
1920
The Lark And The Toad
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Lark And The Toad: Beauty opposed by envy, malice, and dark enchantment.
1920
Repentance
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Repentance: Remorse, moral awakening, and forgiveness.
1920
The Forest Of Lilacs
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Forest Of Lilacs: Enchantment, refuge, and fragile happiness.
1920
The Poor Sick Mother
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Poor Sick Mother: Filial devotion, suffering, and compassion.
1920
The Parrot
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Parrot: Treachery, manipulation, and false guidance.
1920
Bonne-Biche
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Bonne-Biche: Protection, maternal kindness, and magical refuge.
1920
Violette's Sacrifice
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Violette’s Sacrifice: Love proven through self-denial, courage, and devotion.
1920
Violette
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Violette: Childlike innocence, tenderness, and unexpected friendship.
1920
The Chase
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Chase: Pursuit, danger, and testing resolve.
1920
The Tree In The Rotunda
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Tree In The Rotunda: Wonder, mystery, and transformative enchantment.
1920
The Harvest (1)
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Harvest: Labour, simplicity, and honest contentment.
1920
Birth And Infancy Of Ourson
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
Birth And Infancy Of Ourson: Strange beginnings, exile, and formative hardship.
1920
The Farm
Old French Fairy Tales
Comtesse de Ségur
France
The Farm: Rural simplicity, shelter, and hidden identity.
1920
Admetus And The Shepherd
Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew
Josephine Preston Peabody
Greece
Admetus And The Shepherd: hospitality, disguise, kindness, humility, divine favour, kingship, duty, reward
1897
Prometheus
Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew
Josephine Preston Peabody
Greece
Prometheus: creation, defiance, fire, suffering, endurance, rebellion, punishment, humanity
1897
Pygmalion And Galatea (1)
Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew
Josephine Preston Peabody
Greece
Pygmalion And Galatea: longing, artistry, ideal beauty, desire, creation, transformation, devotion, fulfilment
1897
Alcestis
Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew
Josephine Preston Peabody
Greece
Alcestis: sacrifice, love, death, devotion, marriage, loyalty, mourning, return
1897
Icarus And Daedalus
Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew
Josephine Preston Peabody
Greece
Icarus And Daedalus: invention, escape, ambition, warning, disobedience, flight, loss, consequence
1897
Apollo's Sister
Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew
Josephine Preston Peabody
Greece
Apollo’s Sister: wilderness, moonlight, chastity, hunting, independence, divine power, punishment, transformation
1897
Cupid And Psyche (2)
Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew
Josephine Preston Peabody
Greece
Cupid And Psyche: love, trust, secrecy, jealousy, separation, perseverance, reunion, transformation
1897
Stories Of The Trojan War
Old Greek Folk Stories Told Anew
Josephine Preston Peabody
Greece
Stories Of The Trojan War: war, honour, vengeance, heroism, pride, fate, betrayal, ruin
1897
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