FAIRY TALES OF LUDWIG BECHSTEIN

You'll recognize familiar melodies in this medley of spells, enchantments and charms from the collections of the nineteenth century German folklorist. In one after another, generosity and humility are rewarded, princesses are won with little wooing, princes are freed from animal forms, simple shepherds succeed where wise men fail. Some of the stories have ingenious twists, a few are droll or farcical, and the last two have a fateful urgency. Printed on heavy stock, this looks longer than it is, which will discourage some children, but it does look attractive. Only comprehensive fairy tale collections that want to represent Bechstein will find this essential; for most, it's too much of a fair-to-good thing.