Edric Vredenburg's My Book of Favourite Fairy Tales is exactly what the title promises: a personal collection. Published in the early 20th century, it gathers European classics like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Jack and the Beanstalk. The book presents these well-known stories with the language and sensibility of its era, often accompanied by the charming illustrations that were popular at the time.

Why You Should Read It

This book's value isn't in discovering new plots. You know how these stories end. The joy comes from the specific flavor of these retellings. Reading Vredenburg's versions feels like listening to a great-grandparent tell a story—the core is familiar, but the details and emphasis are uniquely theirs. It offers a direct window into what a 'fairy tale' meant to readers over a century ago, before countless modern adaptations smoothed out the edges.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for fairy tale enthusiasts and history-of-storytelling nerds. If you love comparing different versions of Little Red Riding Hood or wondering how our cultural bedtime stories evolved, you'll find this compilation fascinating. It’s also a wonderfully nostalgic volume for collectors of vintage children's books. Just don't expect shocking new twists; the pleasure here is in the quiet, historical echoes.