Old Deccan Days

Old Deccan Days is a collection of Indian folk tales published in 1868 by Mary Frere, daughter of Sir Henry Bartle Frere who served as Governor of Bombay. The stories were narrated to Mary by her Indian ayah (nursemaid) Anna Liberata de Souza during the author's time in India. The book contains 24 traditional stories from the Deccan region of India, including tales of rajas, magical creatures, and religious figures. Each story is presented with notes on its cultural context and accompanied by illustrations that depict scenes from the narratives. These tales offer perspectives on Indian social customs, beliefs, and daily life in the 19th century Deccan region. The collection preserves oral traditions that might otherwise have been lost to time. The stories in Old Deccan Days reflect universal themes of good versus evil, love, sacrifice, and justice while providing insight into traditional Indian storytelling methods and cultural values of the era.

Readers appreciate this early collection of Indian folktales for preserving stories that might otherwise have been lost. Many note the historical significance of these tales being recorded directly from a native storyteller (Anna Liberata de Souza) in the 1860s. Readers highlight: - Detailed cultural context and customs - Original narrator's voice comes through - Useful notes on Indian terms and traditions Common criticisms: - Victorian-era writing style feels dated - Some cultural interpretations reflect colonial perspective - Print versions can have formatting issues Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (14 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (6 ratings) One reader on Goodreads notes: "The stories themselves are engaging but the colonial framing is uncomfortable." Another comments: "A rare glimpse into pre-colonial Indian storytelling traditions." The book receives limited modern reviews, with most discussion coming from academic sources focused on its historical context rather than entertainment value.

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🌟 Mary Frere collected these Indian folk tales while living in India with her father, Sir Bartle Frere, who served as Governor of Bombay during British colonial rule. 🌟 The stories were narrated to Mary by her Indian ayah (nursemaid) Anna Liberata de Souza, making this one of the first collections of Indian folktales recorded directly from an indigenous storyteller. 🌟 Published in 1868, it was among the earliest English-language collections of Indian folklore and helped introduce Western readers to traditional Indian stories and mythology. 🌟 The book includes detailed notes about Indian customs, beliefs, and cultural context, making it valuable not just as entertainment but as an early ethnographic record. 🌟 Each tale in the collection is accompanied by original illustrations by Catherine Frances Frere, Mary's sister, adding authentic period artwork to the storytelling experience.