Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice older books in good condition. Pages in good condition. Some tanning marking and wear due to age. 4 books. No notes or highlighting. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> The farmers and forest workers who told or listened to these tales had no contact with courtly life. In the period when the folk tales flourished Norway was ruled from Denmark and the King had his permanent court in Copenhagen. So the fairy tale king and his residence are envisaged in terms of the experience of the isolated farming communities in the Norwegian valleys. The king is portrayed as a prosperous farmer with neighbours of the same degree. The royal hall of residence (Norwegian “kongsgaarden”) is seen as a large sturdily timbered farm-house flanked by outhouses. The king himself stands on the steps of his porch supervising with a shrewd eye the working of his wealthy farming estate with its fields and forests and rocky hills. In this setting we meet the hero Askelad who is a kind of Norwegian Aladdin. He is no grand figure. The qualities that make him deserve his princess and his share of the kingdom lie beneath the surface. He is slow to take action but acts with in- sight once he gets started. His early life is spent in apparent idle- ness tending the fire and raking the ashes. Hence his name Askelad the “lad of the ashes”. A boy Cinderella he sits by his fireside and gradually develops keen powers of observation led on by his curiosity in a world he finds rich and strange. He is prepared to cultivate his modest skills patiently and diligently. His two elder brothers swagger along through life confident of quick success and fail to notice the things that would bring them real happiness. They turn up their noses at an old baking-trough a nail or a stump of candle. But Askelad can put all these things to good use in order to trick the troll and make off with the treasure. And his wonder at the odd noises of a forest can lead him to a magic axe which he keeps with care. It is his willingness to commune with the world and gather small experiences that strengthens his hidden powers his steadfastness bis humour bis quick wits. (SP)