Publisher's Synopsis
This general affinity established, we proceed to narrow our subject to its proper limits, and to confine it to the consideration, first, of Popular Tales in general, and secondly, of those Norse Tales in particular, which form the bulk of this volume.In the first place, then, the fact which we remarked on setting out, that the groundwork or plot of many of these tales is common to all the nations of Europe, is more important, and of greater scientific interest, than might at first appear. They form, in fact, another link in the chain of evidence of a common origin between the East and West, and even the obstinate adherents of the old classical theory, according to which all resemblances were set down to sheer copying from Greek or Latin patterns, are now forced to confess, not only that there was no such wholesale copying at all, but that, in many cases, the despised vernacular tongues have preserved the common traditions far more faithfully than the writers of Greece and Rome. The sooner, in short, that this theory of copying, which some, even besides the classicists, have maintained, is abandoned, the better, not only for the truth, but for the literary reputation of those who put it forth. No one can, of course, imagine that during that long succession of ages when this mighty wedge of Aryan migration was driving its way through that prehistoric race, nks -- Gudbrand on the hill-side -- The blue belt -- Why the bear is stumpy-tailed -- Not a pin to choose between them -- One's own children are always prettiest -- The three princesses of Whiteland -- The lassie and her godmother -- The three aunts -- The cock, the cuckoo, and the black-cock -- Rich Peter the Pedlar -- Gertrude's bird -- Boots and the troll -- Goosey Grizzel -- The lad who went to the North Wind -- The master thief -- The best wish -- The three billy-goats Gruff -- Well done and ill paid -- The husband who was to mind the house -- Dapplegrim -- -- The seven foals -- The widow's son -- Bushy bride -- -- Tatterhood -- The cock and the hen that went to the Dovrefell -- -- -- -- -
