Of the various types of mythological literature, fairy tales are the simplest and purest expressions of the collective unconscious and thus offer the clearest understanding of the basic patterns of the human psyche.

Every people or nation has its own way of experiencing this psychic reality, and so a study of the world's fairy tales yields a wealth of insights into the archetypal experiences of humankind.

Folk tales and fairy stories were originally intended for both adults and children - Grimms' "Household Tales", for instance - and this international anthology brings together The Frog Who Became an Emperor from China, The Thee Billy Goats Gruff from Norway, Pinocchio from Italy as well as the classic stories of Aesop, Andersen, the Grimm Brothers, Charles Perrault and Oscar Wilde, among many others.