Tales of Faraway Folk

x, 68 pp. Pictures by Irena Lorentowicz. On the shores of icy seas, at the edge of forests where wild creatures lurk, in the shadow of savage crags, and on broad plains where as far as the eye can see the only billows are those of the wheat in the wind, live people with few books or none. They work hard, hunting, trapping, and fishing, or caring for the crops, or minding their herds on the hills. But when night comes, they gather round the fire, in their huts or tents, or perhaps out under the stars , and tell stories One northern tribe has a saying that in ancient times, to keep men from being weary-hearted, a kind god created the storyteller. He is an important figure, but most of the older people can relate the tales, and the younger ones soon lean them.