Four free reads on the Net: fairy tales...and dragons

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” C S Lewis

I have always had a love of the fantasy and magic of fairy tales, collections of which I have collected from across the world. Now as a parent, I’m reading and falling in love all over again with them, although I’m not sure I ever really fell out of love with them.

This week, I’ve chosen a few tales old and new, but the choice is vast - Grimm or Old Peter? English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish? Traditional or modern? 

What to choose? 

Tell me your favourites in the comments

Short Story

I’ve always liked dragons. What story isn’t livened up with the additions of a dragon or two?

Some of our modern fantasy writers have produced some fantastic twists on the traditional tale. This tale by Tanith Lee is a splendid example - read it online here

Draco, Draco

Poem

The German tale Undine was considered one of the most beautiful fairy tales by a 19thC audience. This modern poem takes the tale as its starting point. Read it online:

Undine by Jane Yolen

Collection

So many to choose from but, in the end, I plump for Oscar Wilde’s exquisite tales for children,

Download or read online: The Happy Prince and other tales

(Trouble is I can’t get through reading them to the kids without sobbing)

Essay

Jeanette Winterson makes the case for fairy tales and, in particular Oscar Wilde’s stories, here

Why We need Fairy Tales

Bonus link

Mr Underhill by Ursula Le Guin

Picture: Image from page 44 of "The woodcutter's son, and other English tales retold (1917) from Internet Book Archive images on Flickr as part of The Commons Collection