The genial sultan

In Short

This collection presents three whimsical fairy tales centered on unconventional monarchs. Whether it is a sultan who prefers fishing to governing, a princess overcoming blindness to find a suitor who sees her soul, or a young royal running away to learn the meaning of poverty and love, the narratives emphasize the triumph of empathy over bureaucracy. Through elegant, fable-like prose, the book argues that true authority is rooted in understanding the lives of one’s subjects. It remains a charming relic of early 20th-century American children's literature, valued for its gentle humor and moral clarity.

The Story

The collection opens with Selim, the genial Sultan of Dar, a man so overburdened by his own benevolence that he cannot find a successor to handle the daily administration of his happy kingdom. While his advisers and wives offer unsolicited counsel, Selim dreams only of fishing. He devises an ivory medal to be awarded to the one person capable of managing their own affairs while allowing him to manage his. After posing as a hermit, a fighter, and a merchant, he discovers a slave girl who, while stringing jade beads, refuses to be distracted by the Sultan’s presence. Recognizing her self-possession, he crowns her his Sultana, finally freeing himself to walk out the back door with his fishing gear.

The second story follows Princess Gloriana, the “Morning Star,” whose blindness defines her world until her father, the King, promises her hand and half his kingdom to anyone who can grant her sight. While arrogant nobles and handsome suitors fail, Stepan, a poor, clumsy cobbler with an oversized nose, approaches the throne. Unlike the others, Stepan asks for the Princess’s own consent, a revolutionary gesture in a court bound by tradition. When he successfully restores her vision, Gloriana rejects the beautiful suitors in favor of the man who saw her as an individual. Their reign establishes a new fashion: brown clothes and long noses become symbols of beauty, reinforcing the idea that beauty lies in the observer’s heart.

The final tale concerns a young Princess who is tired of being managed by her stuffy Lord High Chamberlain, Pom-Pom. Faced with the loss of her only friend, the errand boy Rollo, she flees the palace to experience the world beyond royal rules. During her journey, she encounters Gamma Turkin, a poor woman, and a sick soldier, learning the meaning of poverty and pain. By distributing her crown jewels to these strangers, she discovers that to love everyone is the fundamental requirement of a true queen. When she is eventually returned to the palace by the army, the people refuse to accept any other ruler. She is crowned not with gold, but with a garland of flowers, and she transforms her kingdom by appointing her former jailers to positions of meaningful service, finally embracing her duty with a full heart.

How It Unfolds

The search for freedom Selim the Sultan struggles to balance his natural kindness with the crushing responsibilities of ruling his kingdom. He attempts to find a replacement through a trial of character, ultimately choosing a woman who values her own labor over royal spectacle.

The test of true vision Princess Gloriana, blind from birth, awaits a miracle from suitors who only see her beauty. Stepan the cobbler succeeds by treating her as a person capable of choice, proving that kindness is more transformative than medical skill.

The flight from custom A young princess, stifled by the rigid rules of her court, escapes into the countryside with her companion, Rollo. She learns that poverty is not a lack of things, but a state of hope, and that a ruler must experience the world to lead it.

The return to duty After distributing her treasures to the poor and suffering, the princess is brought home by her people. She accepts her throne, not as a prisoner of custom, but as a leader who has learned to love her subjects unconditionally.

The People

Selim is the genial Sultan of Dar, defined by his inability to be stern. He values his personal peace—specifically his fishing—over the accumulation of power, ultimately realizing that the best ruler is one who respects the autonomy of others.

Gloriana is the blind princess who learns to perceive the world through sound and spirit. Her judgment is unclouded by superficial beauty, allowing her to recognize the genuine worth of Stepan.

Stepan is the cobbler whose physical awkwardness hides a deep, quiet integrity. By asking for the Princess’s consent, he challenges the court’s hierarchy and earns his place through empathy rather than martial prowess.

The young Princess (in the final tale) begins as a naive, sheltered child who views life through the lens of etiquette. Through her journey, she matures into a compassionate leader who understands that love is the essential glue of a stable society.

Pom-Pom serves as the foil to these monarchs. As the Lord High Chamberlain, he represents the stifling weight of "custom." However, he is ultimately redeemed by the Princess, who finds a productive, albeit humorous, place for him in her new administration.

In Its Own Voice

"Selim, the Sultan of Dar, renowned for his good nature, was much beloved not only among his own subjects, but among those of nearby lands, all of whom wanted to live in his kingdom."

The narrator introduces the Sultan, whose kindness is so profound it creates a bureaucratic crisis.

"She only, he said, who can tend her own affairs in peace and let me tend mine, can rule my people wisely."

Selim explains his criteria for a successor, prioritizing independence and focus over traditional political skill.

"For everyone we love, said the old man patiently, we gain something--and we give up something."

An elderly guide teaches the young princess the difficult, trade-off nature of love and leadership.

What It's Really About

The central argument of these stories is that leadership is an act of service rather than a position of privilege. The characters constantly grapple with the tension between personal desire and public duty. The book suggests that the most effective rulers are those who have lived—or at least walked—among the common people. By questioning the necessity of "customs" and "rules," the narrative encourages readers to value empathy over rigid tradition. It posits that true power is found in the ability to see the humanity in others, whether they are slaves, cobblers, or soldiers, and that a crown should be a symbol of connection rather than a mark of separation.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the gentle, parabolic nature of classic children’s literature—where morality is clear and the tone is whimsical—will find this collection deeply rewarding. The prose is precise and rhythmic, carrying the warmth of a bedtime story told by a thoughtful mentor. For a modern audience, the book offers a refreshing look at "leaders" who prioritize emotional intelligence over authority. While the settings are fantastical, the dilemmas—the yearning for a vacation, the fear of change, and the desire to be understood—are strikingly human.

The reader should be prepared for the period-typical sentimentality and a certain rhythmic simplicity that characterizes early 20th-century tales. There is no irony here; the stories are earnest, sometimes to a fault, and the solutions to the characters' problems often arrive with the tidy convenience of a fairy tale. However, for those who find the cynicism of contemporary fiction exhausting, there is a profound comfort in these pages. The stories linger in the mind not because of their complexity, but because of their persistent, quiet belief that the world is improved whenever a person chooses to be kind, to listen, and to govern with an open heart.