Tales of Nonsense & Tomfoolery

by DeSpain, Pleasant

• ISBN13: 9780874836455
• ISBN10: 087483645X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-02
• Publisher: August House

Summary

Vol. II: Ten stories from Russia, Ethiopia, Switzerland, China, Norway, India, Finland, Sweden, and the United States. Folktales are among the most resilient types of lore one generation passes to another. Tales we tell today whether they are cautionary, humorous, or embedded with moral instruction date back to ancient civilizations. Storyteller, writer, and folktale enthusiast Pleasant DeSpain has an uncanny ear for those tales that transcend particular eras or cultures and have passed into the ....

Author Biography

Pleasant DeSpain Bio:

Pleasant DeSpain has a most unusual but true name and an equally unusual but true profession – writer and storyteller. He travels the world collecting, researching, writing and retelling traditional tales from native cultures. Born in Colorado, he wrote his first original story at age eight. It was published as “The Mystery Artist” in 1996. Pleasant taught speech-literature-drama for six years at three universities, and wrote-produced-hosted an award-winning TV show called “Pleasant Journeys” on KING TV, Seattle. Now, the author of eighteen award-winning, multicultural story collections and picture books, published by August House, has a home in Troy, NY and frequently travels to spend extended periods of time in Thailand. Pleasant continues to travel the world having amazing adventures. While living in Thailand he has continued to collect more stories and is working on a new book.

Table of Contents

Introduction	11	(2)
The Turnip	13	(6)
Russia
The Silly Farmer	19	(6)
Ethiopia
Close the Door!	25	(6)
United States
The Squire's Bride	31	(8)
Norway
The Extraordinary Cat	39	(4)
China
The Man Who Was on Fire Behind	43	(6)
Switzerland
Two Wives	49	(6)
India
The Bear Who Said North	55	(6)
Finland
The Proud Fox	61	(6)
United States
Three Wishes	67	(6)
Sweden
Notes	73