Traditional Indian lore through the eyes of two artists. “Their collaboration is nothing short of phenomenal. The illustrations take you into another world.” —Medium A shape-shifting tiger and a pretentious rat. A generous goddess and a powerful demon. A clever princess and a prince who returns from the dead. This collection of sixteen traditional tales transports readers to the beguiling world of Indian folklore. Transcribed by Indian and English folklorists in the nineteenth century, these stories brim with wit and magic. Fans of fairy tales will encounter familiar favorites—epic quests and talking animals—alongside delightful surprises—an irreverent sense of humor and an array of bold, inspiring heroines. Each tale in this ebook comes alive alongside exquisite artwork by a pair of contemporary Indian artists.

Life's Secret Phakir Chand The Indigent Brahman The Story of the Rakshasas The Story of Swet-Basanta9 The Evil Eye of Sani The Boy whom Seven Mothers suckled The Story of Prince Sobur The Origin of Opium Strike but Hear The Adventures of Two Thieves and of their Sons2 The Ghost-Brahman The Man who wished to be Perfect A Ghostly Wife The Story of a Brahmadaitya The Story of a Hiraman The Origin of Rubies The Match-making Jackal The Boy with the Moon on his Forehead The Ghost who was Afraid of being Bagged The Field of Bones The Bald Wife

Herein you will find stories like; Life’s Secret, Phakir Chand, The Indigent Brahman, The Story Of The Rakshasas, The Story Of Prince Sobur, The Origin Of Opium, The Man Who Wished To Be Perfect, The Story Of A Brahmadaitya, The Origin Of Rubies and many more. Originally narrated in Bengali, at the behest of Richard Temple, to whom this book is dedicated, Rev. Behari Day translated them into English for a Western audience. These stories are further brought to life through the 32 colour illustrations by Warrick Goble, adding a welcome dimension to the stories, making it easier for children to imagine the settings for the characters and stories contained herein. Stories have also been purloined from Brahmans, barbers, servants and other sources. We, therefore, have reason to believe that the stories given in this book are a genuine sample of the old, old stories told by old Bengali women from age to age through a hundred generations. Bengali folklore constitutes a considerable portion of Bengali literature. In Bengali society, as with most ancient societies, folk literature became a collective product. It also assumes the traditions, emotions, thoughts and values of the community. Rev. Lal Behari Day was told these 22 Bengali tales by his Gammer Grethel. In turn his Gammer (Grandmother) heard these as a little girl at the knee of her old grandmother, reputed to be a good story-teller. This means these stories have been told and passed down for no less than 5 generations before the author heard them, which takes us back to at least AD1720 - if not earlier. YESTERDAY'S BOOKS FOR TODAY'S CHARITIES 10% of the profit from the sale of this book will be donated to charities