The European Folk-Tale Series. The Secrets of the Night, and other Esthonian Tales. Translated by F. Ethel Hynam. Illustrated by H. Oakes-Jones. London: Elliot Stock. 1899.
The preface to this little book informs us that it is the first of a series of about twelve volumes, intended to form a representative series of European Fairy Tales, "now first presented to the world in an English garb." It is disappointing, however, to find that it contains nothing new, but only six tales already published in German by Lowe and in English by myself. The first story, however, is greatly amplified, and one must admit, from an artistic point of view, improved, for it is rather incomplete and unsatisfactory in the original. Still, there are one or two novelties peculiar to the present version. A magician's "proper Esthonian name, a Mana-Berehrer," and "snipe's milk," are unintelligible to me. Nevertheless this is an attractive little book, prettily illustrated, and may help to popularise these comparatively little-known tales among children. To folklorists, however, it would be practically of little value, if only on account of numerous unnecessary alterations and embellishments.
