What's Inside
This volume gathers over eighty narratives that range from short moral fables to sprawling gothic adventures. The contents are not merely for children; they contain angry pastors, robbers who chain noblewomen to dog kennels, and soldiers who strike bargains with witches for gold. The pieces frequently personify the natural world, giving voices to beetle travelers, weather-cocks, and rose-bushes. While some entries like The Little Match-seller focus on quiet, domestic tragedy, others like Holger Danske draw on national myth. The organization is a non-linear mosaic of Danish folklore, travel sketches, and dark whimsical satire that replaces traditional happy endings with bittersweet transformations.
Works & figures
- Ole-Luk-Oie
The dream-god who carries two umbrellas to show children nightly visions. (in “Ole-Luk-Oie, the Dream-God”)
- Meta Mogen
A castle mistress chained to a kennel by a gang of robbers. (in “Delaying is not Forgetting”)
- Holger Danske
A sleeping warrior rooted to a marble table who dreams of Denmark. (in “Holger Danske”)
- Cupid
A saucy, naked boy who shoots an arrow at his rescuer. (in “The Saucy Boy”)
- Poultry Meg
A woman who lives in a manor's duck-house and knows every fowl. (in “Poultry Meg's Family”)
- Anastasia
A girl living in a clay dwelling near the sacred brook of Delphi. (in “The Shepherd's Story of the Bond of Friendship”)
What it's really about
- Divine Mercy
- God's kindness contrasted against the harsh warnings of human preachers.
- Class Contrast
- Grand manor houses and stately castles set against freezing street corners.
Why it's memorable
- A dog with eyes as big as teacups guarding a chest of copper coins.
- A beard growing so long it becomes rooted into a solid marble table.
Where to start
Start with The Little Match-seller for a brief, powerful example of how the collection treats poverty and the supernatural.
For your book club
- Is the dream-god’s umbrella a comfort or a way to control children's perceptions?
- Do the animal perspectives in these stories offer a critique of human vanity?