Folktales of Ancient India

Twenty-five years in the making, this anthology of centuries-old folk tales from the villages of South Asia recreate the oral traditions of old. Treat yourself to 27 old-fashioned short stories of kings, princesses, fools, wisemen, talking animals, treacherous villains, and unlikely heroes. Plucked and distilled from the anthropological literature, these tales hearken to a simpler time and faraway places, when old and young alike were entertained by fireside storytellers who wandered from village to village to ply their yarn-spinning trade.

Be entertained by Harisharam the Frog, who pretended to be a fortune teller until his claims were challenged by the most powerful man in the land. Learn of Ravi the Fly, a quiet unassuming servant who turned out to be the greatest swindler in the land. Be awed by the simple Potmaker whose foolishness thrust him to the front of a great army. And yearn for Savitri, the perfect princess whose relentless love would falter before none, not even the god of Death.

These tales have been told by oral storytellers in villages across ancient India, each time twisting and evolving. Some might seem familiar, given overlapping themes and the messiness of world history and geography. But there's something about folk tales that are distinct from modern stories: they reflect not only timeless themes and perhaps the personality of the storyteller, but also say something of the nature of the people of the times.