'Bengal Fairy Tales', collected by F.B. Bradley-Birt and first published in London in 1920, is an invaluable treasure trove of Bengal's folk culture and a unique testament to the imagination, magical realism, and moral teachings of rural Bengali life. The biggest attraction of this second edition, published by Aditya Prokashon, is the inclusion of rare artworks by the world-renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore, which bring every story to life. This collection features stories of ordinary people, clever weavers, simple-minded Brahmins, and princes, which not only entertain children but also reveal the depth of Bengali sociology and folk philosophy.
This volume contains diverse characters such as 'Padmalochan the Weaver', 'The Clever Weaver', and 'The Deceitful Queen'. Here, human intelligence and the irony of fate are given more prominence than supernatural powers. Bradley-Birt's fluent narrative style and the artistic touch of Abanindranath's sketches have transformed this book from a simple storybook into a special artistic collector's item. For those who wish to rediscover Bengal’s lost oral literature in its classical form, this manuscript is an indispensable resource.