There are several versions of this long tale; the earliest in Italian dates from 1557. In this 1964 version, Miss Hodges relates the several accidental discoveries and achievements of the three princes in descriptive prose; the elaborate palaces of Persia, the heavily jewelled princesses and golden clothed king form sharp contrasts to the pastoral green forests and black, foaming sea which the princes face on their way. While many of the devices and personages hail from a familiar fairy land, some of the bizarre adventures are distinctive. Certain readers will enjoy the lengthy picaresque tale, but the book is more appropriate for reading aloud, in small doses.