Publisher's Synopsis
From the INTRODUCTION.
The tales in this book have been chosen from many sources, which represent the old haunts of people, fairy-tale people, like Mother Hubbard and Simple Simon, who figure in rhyme or legend.
Some of these tales have been forgotten, and some have been lost or long-buried; and there are several that may seem new to you who read them here to-day. Such a story is that of the elfin Green Knight, which is a case of a delightful old fairy-tale that grew into as delightful a romance. A romance indeed is little else than a fairy-tale for older folk. The romancers "swapped" (as schoolboys say) their good things, and in this way we get a story like that of King Arthur and the Giant of St.
Michael's Mount, which comes from the noble old romancer. Sir Thomas Malory. For a fairy-tale, like a cat, has nine lives; it can pass into many queer shapes, and yet not die. You may cut off its head, or drown it in sentiment or sea-water, or tie a moral to its tail; but it will still survive, and be found sitting safe by the fire some winter night.
In some cases, north-country and other friends have helped me to find new versions of old favourites like "The Lambton Worm." Every change in these tales has been made with a teal regard for the jealous love that children feel for their favourites; and so the literary touches added by some earlier collectors have been got rid of here, and the simpler colours of folk-lore and nursery-lore restored.
That old favourite, "Jack the Giant-Killer," has been included in a version collated by Mrs. Grace Rhys from sundry old chap-books.
