French Legends, Tales and Fairy Stories

Oxford Myths and Legends

by Barbara Leonie Picard, Joan Kiddell-Monroe (Illustrator)

France is full of folk tales and fairy stories. From the last stand of the knights, Roland and Oliver, through the legend of how the great stones of Britanny came into being, and on to the fairy story of the Mouse-Princess, there is something here for everyone. Tales of the French epic heroes,
courtly tales from the middle ages, and various legends from the French provinces are retold by a distinguished storyteller.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Mythology

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Barbara Leonie Picard's first book was published in 1949, and was followed by over twenty more, all of which received praise for the mature and thought-provoking fare they offered young readers. She is well-known for her re-tellings of Homer, Gilgamesh, and ancient myths for young readers.

Reviews

[Kimberly Karalius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looooved it! So many good stories from the talented Barbara Leonie Picard. Thanks to ThriftBooks, I was able to finally find a copy!

[L.G. Estrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to French legends and fairy stories. This book provides an excellent sampling of the more popular legends and fairy stories and presents them in clearly written prose that is pitched at the perfect level for casual reading. An adult can easily skim through the book, but it could also be enjoyed by a curious and precocious child. There are also a number of illustrations throughout. They are not stellar by any means, but they do suit the text.

I have a dog-eared copy that I am very fond of. It is certainly a book you can come back to even years later and still enjoy. The legends and fairy stories are timeless. If you have a child with an interest in such things, I would heartily recommend this book.

[Eloise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect myself to enjoy this book at all really. I picked it up for free from a house around the corner when they were spring cleaning.
I love France, I love French things. I want to learn French, I want to live there for a bit, or at least travel it for a while, so therefore I figured it would be of interest to me at some point.

This was actually a really entertaining book. The short stories and fables were perfect for a little break between chores whilst I'm on holidays.
The stories were amusing, making this a delightful read.

[Maddie]

I have loved this book so far. There is fairy stories for young readers, and i love those, There is also romance tales with happy endings. I look forward to reading more and more in this book.