A Choice of Magic

A Choice of Magic is a 1971 collection of 32 fairy tales gathered from global folklore and retold by Ruth Manning-Sanders. The anthology primarily features stories from Manning-Sanders' previous collections, including tales about princes, giants, dwarfs, dragons, ghosts, witches, mermaids, and wizards, along with four previously unpublished stories. The stories originate from diverse cultures and regions including Russia, England, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Arabia, Hungary, and many others. Tales range from familiar classics like "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Aladdin" to lesser-known folklore such as "The Goblins at the Bath House" from Estonia and "Stan Bolovan" from Romania. These traditional tales explore universal themes of magic, transformation, courage, and justice through characters who encounter supernatural beings and face extraordinary challenges. The collection continues Manning-Sanders' dedication to preserving and sharing international folk traditions for young readers.

Limited reader reviews exist online for this 1971 folk tale collection. The few available reviews focus on Manning-Sanders' storytelling style and illustrations by Robin Jacques. Readers appreciated: - Clear, straightforward retellings suitable for children - Inclusion of lesser-known European folk tales - Jacques' black and white illustrations that set the mood - The mix of both dark and lighthearted stories Readers disliked: - Some tales end abruptly - A few stories contain outdated cultural references Available Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (5 ratings, 1 review) LibraryThing: 4.0/5 (2 ratings, 0 reviews) Notable reader comment from Goodreads: "Manning-Sanders preserves the core of these tales while making them accessible to modern children. The illustrations complement the eerie atmosphere perfectly." Most reviews appear in vintage children's book blogs and forums rather than mainstream review sites, suggesting this title maintains a small but dedicated following among folk tale collectors.

The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit Tales of children encountering dragons in different scenarios mirror the magical creature encounters found in Manning-Sanders' collection.

Tales from Old Ireland by Malachy Doyle This collection draws from Celtic folklore traditions with stories of fairies, giants and magical happenings that connect to Manning-Sanders' multicultural approach.

Russian Magic Tales by Robert Chandler The anthology presents traditional Russian folktales featuring supernatural beings, transformations, and quests that parallel the Eastern European selections in Choice of Magic.

The Green Fairy Book by Andrew Lang This volume contains international fairy tales and folk stories about magical creatures and heroic deeds from multiple cultures like Manning-Sanders' collection.

Tales of Wonder by Jane Yolen The compilation features global folklore and fairy tales about supernatural encounters and magical transformations that align with Manning-Sanders' preservation of traditional stories.

🌟 Ruth Manning-Sanders collected over 90 fairy tales in her lifetime, publishing them across multiple themed collections from the 1960s to 1980s 🌟 The author lived in a gypsy caravan while traveling with her husband's circus in the 1920s, an experience that enriched her understanding of oral storytelling traditions 🌟 While many fairy tale collections of the era sanitized dark elements, Manning-Sanders preserved the original consequences in her retellings, believing children could handle complex themes 🌟 The book's title "A Choice of Magic" references the careful selection process from over 500 tales Manning-Sanders had previously published in her themed collections 🌟 Several of the tales included in the anthology were sourced from rare 19th-century folklore journals and had never before been published in children's collections