That’s it, 3 third birthday podcast episodes & blog posts in the bag (well uploaded and scheduled for tomorrow anyway). They are 3 very different episodes and I hope people get something from at least one, whether that’s entertainment, knowledge or maybe even a touch of healing. I’m off now to make noodle soup, play with the cat beast and enjoy making pretty things that might persuade people to listen to them. #Folklore@folklore
There once was of days of yore and in ages and times long gone before, a merchant, who dwelt in the land of Bassorah and who owned two sons and wealth galore. But in due time Allah, the All-hearing the All-knowing, decreed that he should be admitted to the mercy of the Most High so he died, and his two sons laid out buried him and him, after which they divided his gardens and estates equally between them and of his portion each one opened a shop.
“Hasan of Bassorah.” Burton’s Nights (vol. VIII, p. 7. 1885)
There was once upon a time, a poor man who had three sons. When he died, the elder two should go out into the world to try their luck; but they would not, by any means, have the youngest with them. “You,” they said, “you are good for nothing but sitting there, holding fatwood candles, digging in the ashes, and blowing in the embers, you are!”
“The Golden Castle that Hung in the Air.” Norwegian Folktales (vol. II. 1871)
“No complete edition exists in English of the Asbjørnsen and Moe Norwegian collections similar to that in which Grimm’s [sic] German Märchen have been given almost in full to English readers.”
– Martha Warren Beckwith, in a review of John and Helen Gade's Norwegian Fairytales (1925).
It does now. 150 primary texts, which includes the 148 usually published in Norwegian editions, plus two that I have restored to the collection, distributed across four volumes that emulate the original editions, and two extra volumes of the tales and legends that were later added. Six volumes in total.
”If it had been possible to make room for a few notes as to type numbers, sources and locality the book would have been as useful as it is delightful.”
– Katharine Briggs, reviewing Pat Shaw Iversen and Carl Norman’s translation of selected folktales (1960).
Well, my edition of The Complete Norwegian Folktales and Legends of Asbjørnsen & Moe will also include:
Asbjørnsen & Moe's original notes (sketches of other variants, surveys of related folk narratives from other parts of the world, etc.) and appendices (forewords, prefaces, and Jørgen Moe's 58-page introduction in full – >73,000 words).
My own notes (type numbers; sources, including biographies where possible; locality; numbers of variants collected; etc.) and introductions (~55,000 words in total).