Nine Fairy Tales: and One More Thrown in for Good Measure (European Classics) [Paperback]

Karel Capek (Author), Josef Capek (Illustrator), Dagmar Herrmann (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

True to its name, this 1932 collection by the Czech author of War with the Newts is crowded with sprites, fairies and others of that insubstantial ilk. Genuine fantasy results, however, when they cross paths with stubbornly human types in such sweetly absurd scenes as when a policeman serves notice to a dragon ("Hello there . . . mind showing me your papers? Do you have an ID? A gun permit? A library card?") or a bevy of doctors diagnoses a magician gagging on a plum pit (variously acute prunitis, choking plumitis, stonepititis of the pharynx and prunoplumryx stonepititis). The author's brother contributes illustrations and one tale "for good measure," adding his gentle mark to a mix that smacks of Wilde, in the beatific magician of "The Great Cat's Tale"; of Gogol, in the incorrigible hat of "The Tramp's Tale"; of Kipling throughout; and, above all, of Capek's own animism, endowing cat, mailman, hydra, American detective and frog with good, jovial souls.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Czech

Product Details

• Paperback: 253 pages
• Publisher: Northwestern University Press (October 7, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081011464X
• ISBN-13: 978-0810114647
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #379,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Czech author, November 7, 2009

By 

Jeannette Young (Lincoln, NE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nine Fairy Tales: and One More Thrown in for Good Measure (European Classics) (Paperback)

A must read for Czechophiles. Karel Capek is one of the great Czech writers. It is great to have an English translation of these fairy tales. The political oppression of the time is subtly reflected in his character descriptions. Thought provoking while still amusing.

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming, delightful, beyond comparison., August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Nine Fairy Tales: and One More Thrown in for Good Measure (European Classics) (Paperback)

I'm assuming this is the book I think it is (don't have my old English copy in front of me), but if it includes the story of a dog named Jim, get it. This amazing story (which also explains how dogs asked God to create Man) is at turns folklike, charming, sweet, and transcendent. Capek is an author who could not be published today: for how could you classify him? Only one way: as himself, Karel Capek.