Tales from the Old World

This must count as one of the best anthologies of its kind currently available. Crossley-Holland has selected a tale from each of ten different European countries and, in the process of retelling them, has provided for today's young readers an immediately engaging set of stories. Even the ones most likely to be already known, such as 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin', 'The Ugly Duckling' and 'Arthur the King', attain an unusual freshness, principally through a selectivity of detail and a choice of language which is sharp, focused and stylish. All in all, here is a rich mixture of the mythical, the magical, the marvellous and the mirthful which, at twice the price, would still be a bargain.