Ruth Manning-Sanders

Ruth Manning-Sanders (1886-1988) was a prolific English author who published over 90 books during her lifetime, primarily known for her extensive collections of fairy tales from around the world. Her most significant contribution to children's literature was a series of fairy tale anthologies published by Methuen, with titles like "A Book of Dragons," "A Book of Witches," and "A Book of Giants." Her early life experiences, including summers spent in a Scottish Highland farmhouse called "Shian" and years touring Britain in a horse-drawn caravan with a circus, greatly influenced her writing. Manning-Sanders incorporated these unique life experiences into her work, writing several books about circus life alongside her fairy tale collections. The author maintained a consistent approach to fairy tale retellings, preserving traditional elements while making the stories accessible to modern young readers. Her work is characterized by the inclusion of both well-known and obscure tales from various cultures, with each collection typically featuring stories unified by a common theme or character type. Manning-Sanders remained active as a writer well into her later years, producing most of her fairy tale anthologies during the 1960s and 1970s. Her contribution to children's literature spans several decades, with her works helping to preserve and popularize traditional fairy tales for new generations.

Readers remember Manning-Sanders' fairy tale collections from their childhoods in the 1960s-70s and seek them out for nostalgia. Her books receive 4.5/5 average ratings on Goodreads and Amazon, though with relatively few reviews (under 50 per book). Readers praise: - The dark, non-sanitized nature of her retellings - Her straightforward writing style that respects children's intelligence - The variety of lesser-known tales from different cultures - John Strickland's illustrations Common criticisms: - Some tales feel repetitive in theme and structure - A few readers found certain stories too frightening for young children - Books are hard to find, with few still in print On Goodreads, A Book of Dragons (1964) rates 4.2/5 from 229 reviews. A Book of Witches (1965) rates 4.3/5 from 182 reviews. Reviews frequently mention these books as childhood favorites that hold up well for adult readers. Several reviewers note sharing the books with their own children decades later.

A Book of Giants A collection of traditional tales featuring giants from various world cultures, including both friendly and fearsome characters.

A Cauldron of Witches An anthology of witch-themed folk tales from different countries, presenting various witch characters and their magical encounters.

A Choice of Magic A compilation of magical stories selected from world folklore, featuring enchantments and supernatural events.

Damian and the Dragon: Modern Greek Folk-Tales A collection of Greek folk tales featuring the character Damian and his encounters with dragons and other mythical creatures.

Fox Tales A gathering of traditional stories centered around fox characters and their clever adventures.

Gianni and the Ogre A tale following the adventures of Gianni in his encounters with a fearsome ogre.

Old Witch Boneyleg A story about the adventures and misadventures of a distinctive witch character named Boneyleg.

Peter and the Piskies A collection of Cornish folk tales featuring Peter and his interactions with magical piskies.

Red Indian Folk and Fairy Tales An anthology of Native American traditional stories and legends.

Scottish Folk Tales A compilation of traditional tales from Scotland, featuring local legends and folklore.

Sir Green Hat and the Wizard A story following the adventures of Sir Green Hat as he encounters a mysterious wizard.

The Haunted Castle A tale set in a mysterious castle filled with supernatural occurrences and ghostly encounters.

The Red King and the Witch: Gypsy Folk and Fairy Tales A collection of traditional Romani folk tales featuring various magical characters and events.

The Three Witch Maidens A story about three mysterious witch maidens and their magical adventures.

Tortoise Tales A compilation of folk tales centered around tortoise characters and their wisdom.

Young Gabby Goose A story following the adventures of a young goose character named Gabby.

Andrew Lang compiled and edited the famous "Colored Fairy Books" series, presenting fairy tales from diverse cultures in a similar comprehensive format to Manning-Sanders. His collections, published between 1889 and 1910, contain traditional tales with authentic cultural elements preserved.

Joseph Jacobs collected and published English, Celtic, and Indian fairy tales in the late 1800s, maintaining their original narrative style while making them accessible to readers. His work preserves traditional storytelling elements while documenting important cultural folklore.

Katherine Mary Briggs authored extensive collections of British folklore and fairy tales, documenting traditional stories with academic precision. Her works include comprehensive anthologies that preserve regional variations of tales.

Italo Calvino collected and retold Italian folktales, maintaining their traditional elements while presenting them in a clear narrative style. His collection "Italian Folktales" contains 200 stories that preserve regional storytelling traditions.

Jane Yolen writes and collects folk tales and fairy tales, focusing on preserving traditional storytelling elements while making them accessible to modern readers. Her work spans multiple cultures and includes both retellings and original tales based on folklore traditions.