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Erotic Folktales from Norway
Once upon a time, in the 19th century, certain men began to travel the highways and byways of rural Norway, collecting the tales, legends, and fables that the local population had to tell them. Many of these tales were published almost at once, such as “The Three Billy-goats Gruff,” and “East of the Sun and West of the Moon.” Certain others tales, however, because of their plain treatment of the sexual side of human experience, were repressed. The manuscripts languished in the archives of the university for nearly a hundred years, before being brought into the light, and published in Norway.
Here are tales of witches, trolls, giants, soothsayers, and princesses; as well as tales of sinners, sextons, parsons, beetles, fleas, and mice. Even Adam and Eve make an appearance. Some of them are hilarious, others astonishing, with the odd cringe-worthy tale thrown in for good measure. All of the tales reveal the society that brought them forth—from a certain perspective.
This is the first time the collection has been translated into English.
Here are tales of witches, trolls, giants, soothsayers, and princesses; as well as tales of sinners, sextons, parsons, beetles, fleas, and mice. Even Adam and Eve make an appearance. Some of them are hilarious, others astonishing, with the odd cringe-worthy tale thrown in for good measure. All of the tales reveal the society that brought them forth—from a certain perspective.
This is the first time the collection has been translated into English.
- GenresHumorFairy TalesFiction
167 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1978
22 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Simon Roy Hughes
18 books21 followersMy name is Simon Roy Hughes, and I was born in London in 1970. At the age of 21, I ran away to Sweden, then moved to Norway, where (in no particular order) I earned my education, raised my kids, and settled down. I currently live in Bodø, a city about 100 km north of the Arctic circle.
I am interested in all kinds of Norwegian folklore, and I post final drafts of all of my translations to the web, where they are freely available to read.
I am interested in all kinds of Norwegian folklore, and I post final drafts of all of my translations to the web, where they are freely available to read.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 12, 2016
See Foreign fiction translated into Dutch/Flemish for a review in Dutch.
The 50 fairy tales in this book vary in length from just half a page to several pages. And all of them were able to make me smile :-). In spite of the title of the book (my Dutch edition is called De vunzige varkenshoeder en andere erotische sprookjes uit Noorwegen), don't expect ‘erotica’ in the modern sense of the word, because you won't find any here. Of these fairy tales the short ones are more like dirty jokes and both the short and long(er) ones have a punch line at the end (which is what made me smile).
There was one fairy tale which was very familiar to me and although I can’t quite remember where I’ve read it before, I have a feeling it might be one of the stories I read years ago in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Whatever you do when you start reading these fairly tales, don’t skip the excellent introduction, as it really should be read before starting on the tales themselves.
Have fun reading these lovely, humorous fairy tales! For adults only, mind you :-)
The 50 fairy tales in this book vary in length from just half a page to several pages. And all of them were able to make me smile :-). In spite of the title of the book (my Dutch edition is called De vunzige varkenshoeder en andere erotische sprookjes uit Noorwegen), don't expect ‘erotica’ in the modern sense of the word, because you won't find any here. Of these fairy tales the short ones are more like dirty jokes and both the short and long(er) ones have a punch line at the end (which is what made me smile).
There was one fairy tale which was very familiar to me and although I can’t quite remember where I’ve read it before, I have a feeling it might be one of the stories I read years ago in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Whatever you do when you start reading these fairly tales, don’t skip the excellent introduction, as it really should be read before starting on the tales themselves.
Have fun reading these lovely, humorous fairy tales! For adults only, mind you :-)
September 29, 2017
Erotic but not Erotic
Back in the day when collecting folk tales was what all fashionable patriots did, a fair few stories were considered unpublishable because their content was in some way "sexual". In fact, any mention of bodily functions or anatomy was pretty much taboo so apart from private collections, these tales languished unpublished until 1977 when a collection was presented under the title of "Erotiske folkeeventyr". This translation is largely based on that collection and owes its title to the Norwegian volume, but as the translator notes in his introduction these tales may be many things, but sexy they are not.
This collection is remarkable because it allows the authentic folk voice to come through. It is inconceivable that everyday tale telling would have been limited to stories fit for children or for the parson, and this collection of 54 tales reflects that reality.
Along the way we see the normal archetypes and the usual twists and turns of folktales: princesses are won, monsters are defeated, smart-arsed older brothers bested, and rich kings tricked. And all this at the cost of only a few slightly rude words.
It was fun to find Chaucer's Miller's Tale popping up as "The Man Who Expected the Flood", and there are some nice themes that bring the atmosphere of Norway at the end of the nineteenth century.
This is a valuable addition to the cannon for folktale enthusiasts, and an entertaining read for everyone.
Back in the day when collecting folk tales was what all fashionable patriots did, a fair few stories were considered unpublishable because their content was in some way "sexual". In fact, any mention of bodily functions or anatomy was pretty much taboo so apart from private collections, these tales languished unpublished until 1977 when a collection was presented under the title of "Erotiske folkeeventyr". This translation is largely based on that collection and owes its title to the Norwegian volume, but as the translator notes in his introduction these tales may be many things, but sexy they are not.
This collection is remarkable because it allows the authentic folk voice to come through. It is inconceivable that everyday tale telling would have been limited to stories fit for children or for the parson, and this collection of 54 tales reflects that reality.
Along the way we see the normal archetypes and the usual twists and turns of folktales: princesses are won, monsters are defeated, smart-arsed older brothers bested, and rich kings tricked. And all this at the cost of only a few slightly rude words.
It was fun to find Chaucer's Miller's Tale popping up as "The Man Who Expected the Flood", and there are some nice themes that bring the atmosphere of Norway at the end of the nineteenth century.
This is a valuable addition to the cannon for folktale enthusiasts, and an entertaining read for everyone.
March 15, 2022
No sabría muy bien como describir este Cuentos Prohibidos Noruegos. Me ha parecido fascinante y MUY diferente a todo aquello que he leído antes.
Este libro nos permite conocer más a fondo los cuentos populares noruegos, más allá de las historias tradicionales para niños o el para la parroquia. Nos podemos encontrar con los típicos elementos de los cuentos populares como princesas en apuros, monstruos o jóvenes caballeros; todo ello acompañado con lenguaje vulgar y sexo.
Es una lectura muy divertida e interesante pero hay que tener en cuenta el contexto de la época. Los cuentos fueron recogidos en el siglo XIX, por lo que encontraremos muchas situaciones cuestionables y bastante incorrectas (entre ellos posibles violaciones)
Hay que tener en cuenta que este libro no recopila cuentos eróticos propiamente dichos y lo que antes se consideraba escandaloso, ahora podría verse más normal. Creo que si eliges leer este libro esperando cuentos extremadamente eróticos y descriptivos, te vas a decepcionar.
Para mí este libro fue muy entretenido y disfruté muchísimo; también me quedé un poco traumatizada en algunas ocasiones :)
Este libro nos permite conocer más a fondo los cuentos populares noruegos, más allá de las historias tradicionales para niños o el para la parroquia. Nos podemos encontrar con los típicos elementos de los cuentos populares como princesas en apuros, monstruos o jóvenes caballeros; todo ello acompañado con lenguaje vulgar y sexo.
Es una lectura muy divertida e interesante pero hay que tener en cuenta el contexto de la época. Los cuentos fueron recogidos en el siglo XIX, por lo que encontraremos muchas situaciones cuestionables y bastante incorrectas (entre ellos posibles violaciones)
Hay que tener en cuenta que este libro no recopila cuentos eróticos propiamente dichos y lo que antes se consideraba escandaloso, ahora podría verse más normal. Creo que si eliges leer este libro esperando cuentos extremadamente eróticos y descriptivos, te vas a decepcionar.
Para mí este libro fue muy entretenido y disfruté muchísimo; también me quedé un poco traumatizada en algunas ocasiones :)
September 21, 2025
No sabría muy bien como describir este Cuentos Prohibidos Noruegos. Me ha parecido fascinante y MUY diferente a todo aquello que he leído antes.
Este libro nos permite conocer más a fondo los cuentos populares noruegos, más allá de las historias tradicionales para niños o el para la parroquia. Nos podemos encontrar con los típicos elementos de los cuentos populares como princesas en apuros, monstruos o jóvenes caballeros; todo ello acompañado con lenguaje vulgar y sexo.
Es una lectura muy divertida e interesante pero hay que tener en cuenta el contexto de la época. Los cuentos fueron recogidos en el siglo XIX, por lo que encontraremos muchas situaciones cuestionables y bastante incorrectas (entre ellos posibles violaciones)
Hay que tener en cuenta que este libro no recopila cuentos eróticos propiamente dichos y lo que antes se consideraba escandaloso, ahora podría verse más normal. Creo que si eliges leer este libro esperando cuentos extremadamente eróticos y descriptivos, te vas a decepcionar.
Para mí este libro fue muy entretenido y disfruté muchísimo; también me quedé un poco traumatizada en algunas ocasiones :)
Este libro nos permite conocer más a fondo los cuentos populares noruegos, más allá de las historias tradicionales para niños o el para la parroquia. Nos podemos encontrar con los típicos elementos de los cuentos populares como princesas en apuros, monstruos o jóvenes caballeros; todo ello acompañado con lenguaje vulgar y sexo.
Es una lectura muy divertida e interesante pero hay que tener en cuenta el contexto de la época. Los cuentos fueron recogidos en el siglo XIX, por lo que encontraremos muchas situaciones cuestionables y bastante incorrectas (entre ellos posibles violaciones)
Hay que tener en cuenta que este libro no recopila cuentos eróticos propiamente dichos y lo que antes se consideraba escandaloso, ahora podría verse más normal. Creo que si eliges leer este libro esperando cuentos extremadamente eróticos y descriptivos, te vas a decepcionar.
Para mí este libro fue muy entretenido y disfruté muchísimo; también me quedé un poco traumatizada en algunas ocasiones :)
July 20, 2022
Not erotica, but some bawdy fun!
I wasn't looking for or expecting erotica. I was searching for folk stories to include in a historical fiction novel I'm working on. After reading some of the other reviews I knew I had found drinking stories and dirty jokes. This fits the bill. It is most surely a collection of raunchy little stories, that might have been told by sailors and such in taverns during a night of drinking. Funny enough, I've heard a couple of them from my grandmother, who could tell some decent dirty ditties when she was in her cups. They are absolutely charming in their raunchy little way.
I wasn't looking for or expecting erotica. I was searching for folk stories to include in a historical fiction novel I'm working on. After reading some of the other reviews I knew I had found drinking stories and dirty jokes. This fits the bill. It is most surely a collection of raunchy little stories, that might have been told by sailors and such in taverns during a night of drinking. Funny enough, I've heard a couple of them from my grandmother, who could tell some decent dirty ditties when she was in her cups. They are absolutely charming in their raunchy little way.
July 11, 2020
I feel the title of this book is misleading as none of the stories were erotic in the sense we use the word these days. While these stories were probably pretty scandalous when they were written, they seem pretty tame by today’s standards. Some were pretty humorous while others fell flat for me.
August 18, 2020
Chuckle
I had a good chuckle at some of these. Not recommended for anyone who is of the prudish nature, which is obvious.
Some stories were repeats of the previous with a little twist to them, which I liked. The great thing about folktales is they are meant to be retold and reshaped.
I had a good chuckle at some of these. Not recommended for anyone who is of the prudish nature, which is obvious.
Some stories were repeats of the previous with a little twist to them, which I liked. The great thing about folktales is they are meant to be retold and reshaped.
October 25, 2020
An interesting funny book, very entertaining. One can also see old words no longer used in Norwegian and get to know Folktales which are not so know to the fact of having a subtle to it in the erotic side. Still, hilarious.
February 10, 2026
Ikke særlig erotisk, nei!
December 24, 2025
Hva kan man si... erotisk?
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews