BEWARE THE MAN WITHOUT A BEARD and Other Greek Folk Tales

Nine stories that might have passed if they'd been better told don't stand a chance in stilted fairy-talese. ""Love Like Salt"" is the familiar claim of the youngest daughter disclaimed by her irate father and ""The Foolish Women"" are ""The Three Sillies"" in another guise. Although ""The Silent Princess"" and ""The Thief in the King's Treasury"" take clever turns, and a few have a home-grown flavor, the collection as a whole is no particular contribution; it certainly has no visual appeal. Better put your drachmas on Damian and the Dragon.