European Fairy Tales
This collection brings together distinct European tellings, including a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, a Polish tale in Andrew Lang’s Yellow Fairy Book and a Czech tale retold by Parker Fillmore. Authored fairy tales and collected folk narratives have different publication histories.
Read the individual source note and audience guidance: familiar fairy-tale forms can include fatal challenges or harsh punishments.
3 stories are in this collection right now.
Browse by region: Europe.
European Fairy Tales
The Glass Mountain
Where knights on fine horses have failed, a cheerful schoolboy with lynx claws on his hands and feet sets out to climb the slippery Glass Mountain.
European Fairy Tales
Ages 9-12
The Three Golden Hairs of Grandfather Knowitall
A king tries everything to stop a charcoal-burner’s son from marrying his daughter, even sending him to fetch three golden hairs from the Sun himself.
European Fairy Tales
The Little Mermaid
A sea princess trades her voice for legs to win a prince and a soul, but when he weds another she refuses to harm him and rises into the air.