A Book of Ogres and Trolls (1974)

Second printing of Ruth Manning-Sanders' collection of stories from around the world

Author

Ruth Manning-Sanders, illustrated by Robin Jacques

Publisher

Methuen Children's Books, London, 1974

Printing Details

First edition, second printing. Hardback in dustwrapper. 24 × 16.5cm, 127pp

Ogres and trolls are not always what you expect.

As Manning-Sanders explains in her foreword, many ogres in fairy tales are exactly what you'd imagine—great, stupid, cruel creatures. But some are surprisingly clever, and most possess magical powers to assist them in their havoc. In rare cases, they can be just, forgiving, and even helpful. Trolls, meanwhile, are almost universally small creatures with magical powers of their own. Most are mischievous, but they can be convinced to do good. They are feared, respected, and even accepted by the people in these stories.

In this collection, Ruth Manning-Sanders gathers thirteen tales from Russia, Iceland, Sicily, Italy, Ireland, Germany, and Denmark—each one featuring ogres, trolls, or both. The stories span a wonderful range of moods and surprises. There is a good ogre from Russia whose nature defies expectation. There are children who must outwit the ogre's terrible breath in Sicily. There is a troll wife in Iceland whose story proves that monsters are not always the monsters they're cracked up to be, and that a little kindness goes a long, long way. And there is even—rarest of all in fairy tales—a kind stepmother.

Condition

The book itself is in excellent condition. The dustwrapper has a little tanning to the edges but is clean and in very good shape, and has not been price-clipped.