Oscar Wilde

'Urashima' is the sad story of a fisherman from Japan. Sad, and yet very sweet in its telling.  Book: Japanese Fairy Tales Author: Grace James Host:   Support The Folktale Project by becoming a supporter on Patreon at  or buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi at&nbsp;.  To get more full stories and early access to all of the Folktale Project subscribe on Patreon at ! &nbsp; &nbsp;

Urashima - A Japanese Fairytale

Today's story from 'Jewish Fairy Stories' is a tale all about doing good with what heaven blesses us. Something we should all certainly aspire to.  Book: Jewish Fairy Stories Editor: Aunt Naomi Translator: Gerald Friedlander Host:   Support The Folktale Project by becoming a supporter on Patreon at  or buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi at&nbsp;.  To get more full stories and early access to all of the Folktale Project subscribe on Patreon at ! &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Coins of Elijah - A Jewish Fairytale

Ceremonial County Series Vol.III - North Yorkshire | Devon

This week's tale is one of my favorite versions of the "Toads and Diamonds" story - 'The Three Heads of the Well'.  Book: English Fairy Tales Editor: Flora Annie Webster Steel Host:   Support The Folktale Project by becoming a supporter on Patreon at  or buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi at&nbsp;.  To get more full stories and early access to all of the Folktale Project subscribe on Patreon at ! &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Three Heads of the Well - An Englisih Fairytale

Today we have a story of brotherly love and a healthy dose of mistrust. But we get a lovely story out of it. Book: Roumanian Fairy Tales Author: Various Compiler: Mite Kremnitz Editor: J. M. Percival Host:  Support The Folktale Project by becoming a supporter on Patreon at  or buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi at&nbsp;. &nbsp;

The Morning Star and the Evening Star - A Romanian Fairytale

Today a very lucky Dan will share with you the twisted and twisting tale of 'Unlucky Daniel'. Book: Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales Author: Anonymous Illustrator: Noel L. Nisbet Translator: R. Nisbet Bain Host:  Support The Folktale Project by becoming a supporter on Patreon at  or buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi at&nbsp;. &nbsp;

Unlucky Daniel - A Russian Fairytale

Today's story is a combination of my favorite types of tales and origin story and a tale told by a grandparent to their grandchildren. That it features a bear turning human is just a bonus! Book:&nbsp;Korean Fairy Tales Author: William Elliot Griffis  Support  The Folktale Project  by becoming a supporter on Patreon at   or buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi at&nbsp;. &nbsp;

Prince Sandalwood: The Father of Korea - A Korean Folktale

Lincolnshire: The Legend of Willy Howe (the fairy cup) by ADRA
East Yorkshire: Ballad of the Linksheere Commons by Thorn Wych

Ceremonial County Series Vol.IV - Lincolnshire | East Yorkshire - Sampler

This week we have a love story from the Blackfeet Nation. It's quite a tale brought to us by George Bird Grinnell.  Title: Blackfoot Lodge Tales: The Story of a Prairie People Author: George Bird Grinnell  Host:&nbsp;  Support The Folktale Project by becoming a supporter on Patreon at  or buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi at&nbsp;.  To get more full stories and early access to all of the Folktale Project subscribe on Patreon at ! &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Lost Woman - A Blackfeet Folktale

'The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body' is a familiar tale, but one that is at the same time very much its own story of love and kindness.  Title: East of the Sun and West of the Moon:&nbsp;Old Tales from the North Authors: Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe Host:   Support The Folktale Project by becoming a supporter on Patreon at  or buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi at&nbsp;.  To get more full stories and early access to all of the Folktale Project subscribe on Patreon at ! &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body - A Norwegian Folktale

In a town where a lot of poor people suffer, a swallow who was left behind after his flock flew off to Egypt for the winter meets the statue of the late "Happy Prince", who in reality has never experienced true happiness. Viewing various scenes of people suffering in poverty from his tall monument, the Happy Prince asks the swallow to take the ruby from his hilt, the sapphires from his eyes, and the golden leaf covering his body to give to the poor. As the winter comes and the Happy Prince is stripped of all of his beauty, his lead heart breaks when the swallow dies as a result of his selfless deeds and severe cold. The statue is then torn down and melted leaving behind the broken heart and the dead swallow. These are taken up to heaven by an angel that has deemed them the two most precious things in the city. This is affirmed by God and they live forever in his city of gold and garden of paradise.

The Happy Prince

The Selfish Giant owns a beautiful garden which has 12 peach trees and lovely fragrant flowers, in which children love to play after returning from the school. On the giant's return from seven years visiting his friend the Cornish Ogre, he takes offense at the children and builds a wall to keep them out. He put a notice board "TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED". The garden falls into perpetual winter.

The Selfish Giant

“Ah! I know nothing about the feelings of parents,” said the Water-rat; “I am not a family man. In fact, I have never been married, and I never intend to be. Love is all very well in its way, but friendship is much higher. Indeed, I know of nothing in the world that is either nobler or rarer than a devoted friendship.”

“And what, pray, is your idea of the duties of a devoted friend?” asked a Green Linnet, who was sitting in a willow-tree hard by, and had overheard the conversation.

The Devoted Friend

“She said that she would dance with me if I brought her red roses,” cried the young Student; “but in all my garden there is no red rose.”

From her nest in the holm-oak tree the Nightingale heard him, and she looked out through the leaves, and wondered.

The Nightingale and The Rose

Of course you know what is meant by a magnifying glass—one of those round spectacle-glasses that make everything look a hundred times bigger than it is? When any one takes one of these and holds it to his eye, and looks at a drop of water from the pond yonder, he sees above a thousand wonderful creatures that are otherwise never discerned in the water

The Drop of Water

Who says you're too old for a good fairy tale? Reading original versions of folktales and fairy tales from around the world every Monday through Friday, this podcast is for everyone who has a love of the mystery that surrounds us and the ways we try to explain it.

Theme music is Kirigami by Graham Bole. (freemusicarchive.org/music/Graham_B…_01_-_Kirigami)

The Happy Prince

The Folktale Project

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