top of page

⭐ Quick Tip: How to Read This Book?

  • Use the Table of Contents beneath the book blurb on the right side to jump to any part of this e‑book. Only subscribed members can unlock the book's content, so make sure to log in!

Joseph Jacobs

Indian Fairy Tales

Joseph Jacobs' Indian Fairy Tales is a seminal collection of folklore published in 1892, following his successful compilations of English and Celtic tales. As a folklorist, Jacobs sought to bring the rich and diverse oral traditions of the Indian subcontinent to an English-speaking audience, drawing from ancient texts like the Jataka Tales and the Panchatantra, as well as from contemporary oral sources. The collection is populated with a vibrant cast of characters that have become archetypes in world folklore: wise and cunning animals like tigers and jackals, powerful rajas and beautiful princesses, clever fools, and potent magicians. The tales explore universal themes of justice, folly, wisdom, and the triumph of the underdog, often through a blend of human and animal interactions. Stories such as "The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal" showcase cleverness overcoming brute force, while others like "The Demon with the Matted Hair" draw from the broader mythological pool of the region. Jacobs adapted the language for a juvenile audience, but he retained the essential morals and whimsical spirit of the originals. This collection not only provides entertainment but also serves as a valuable cultural bridge, offering Western readers a glimpse into the imaginative world and moral philosophy of Indian tradition.


Table of Contents:

Brown Textured Surface

No Subscription? No Problem!

Free Sample

⭐ Quick Tip: About Free Samples

  • We offer a free sample to our visitors so that they can check if they like our books before they commit!

⭐ Quick Tip: Enjoyed the Free Sample?
Don’t leave the story unfinished — it will stay with you until you know how it ends! Your next chapter is waiting, and you can unlock it instantly with a 7‑day free trial. No commitments, no distractions — just uninterrupted reading.

bottom of page