3 Review(s)

In every corner of India, there is a wealth of folktales-funny, fabulous and fantastical. In this collection, Eunice de Souza brings together one hundred and one wonderful stories, both familiar and unknown. Their subjects are diverse - how the world was made, how kings should rule, the tales of wise and foolish men and women, and animal fables. Some stories are about well-known heroes – Akbar and Birbal, Vikram and Betal, Tenali Raman – while some introduce new ones, like Gulalla Shah, the brave man from the hills, and Parmanand, the reluctant guru from Andhra Pradesh. There are also sundry appearances by the devil, beautiful temptresses and supernatural creatures. This is a true collector’s item, encompassing the entire range and diversity of the oral tradition in different parts of the country, and with bold an vivid illustrations by Sujata Singh.