Publisher Description
Many stories have stood the test of time, but those in this selection have entranced audiences for thousands of years and remain as fresh today as they were when first told—a fascinating collection which gives vivid insights into lives in ancient times and the issues that occupied the people of the day.
Includes tales of ancient Egypt, written to discourage militant women from reviving the old matriarchal system; enchanting stories of the Buddha that were later adapted by Aesop; old humorous stories of the Brahmans; stories from the Greeks in Asia Minor; plus epic tales by the excellent Latin writer Apuleius:
- “The Tale of Khafri” (Egyptian, 4800 BC)
- “The Tale of Ahuri” (Egyptian, 1300 BC)
- “Stories of the Buddha” (Indian, 560 BC)
- “The Monkey and the Queen’s Jewels”
- “The Tale of Princess Sambula”
- “The Ass in the Lion’s Skin”
- “The Talkative Tortoise”
- “The Judgment of the Buddha”
- “The Pancha-Tantra” (Indian, 300 BC)
- “The Brahman of Vain Dreams”
- “The Hitopadesa” (Indian, 600 AD)
- “The Rajah’s Son and the Merchant’s Wife”
- “The Faithful Servant”
- “Herodotus” (485-425 BC)
- “The Treasure of King Rhampsinitus”
- “Polycrates and his Ring”
- “Theocritus” (300 BC)
- “The Ladies of Syracuse”
- “Petronius”
- “The Widow of Ephesus”
- “Apuleius” (125 AD)
- “Cupid and Psyche”
Download and start listening now!
About various authors
Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) was born in Odense, Denmark, the son of a poor shoemaker and a washerwoman. As a young teenager, he became quite well known in Odense as a reciter of drama and as a singer. When he was fourteen, he set off for the capital, Copenhagen, determined to become a national success on the stage. He failed miserably, but made some influential friends in the capital who got him into school to remedy his lack of proper education. In 1829 his first book was published. After that, books came out at regular intervals. His stories began to be translated into English as early as 1846. Since then, numerous editions, and more recently Hollywood songs and Disney cartoons, have helped to ensure the continuing popularity of the stories in the English-speaking world.