The golden heart, and other fairy stories

In Short

This vibrant collection gathers eight classic fairy tales defined by steadfast loyalty, magical perils, and moral triumph. Across its pages, an ugly prince undertakes a perilous desert quest to free a captive royal, exiled princesses navigate the wicked designs of sorcerers and dragons, and humble gardeners outwit arrogant suitors. Blending traditional folklore motifs with gentle humor and vivid landscapes, the stories reward courage, empathy, and sacrifice while punishing cruelty and vanity. Its enduring charm lies in its memorable, imaginative characters—from talking pelicans to mischievous dwarfs—and its timeless, uplifting celebration of inner nobility.

The Story

The collection opens with "The Golden Heart," where a modest fishing boy joins the Ugly Prince on a dangerous voyage across the North Sea. The Prince seeks to rescue a captive Princess held fast upon a barren rock by an evil witch and her ravenous cormorants. To win her freedom, the Prince accepts her magic Golden Heart, taking on immense suffering and undertaking a brutal expedition across the world's desert edges. Equipped with the witch's stolen magic shoe and cormorant wings, he endures severe trials until a enchanted fountain reflects the true, radiant beauty of his selfless soul. Restored in appearance and crowned with honor, he returns to free the Princess and share his kingdom with his faithful young friend.

In "The Sorcerer’s Sons and The Two Princesses of Japan," the wicked Sorcerer Badoko abducts the young princesses Azalea and Anemone, carrying them along a barren river to be imprisoned by a wealthy Dragon. A clever rook and a garrulous raven carry news of their plight back to the grieving Emperor. With the unexpected assistance of Badoko’s own righteous sons, the captives escape their dark fate and bring peace back to the imperial court.

"Grimaçon" follows the sweet Princess Moonflower, who flees her cruel aunt alongside her devoted, humpbacked dwarf companion, Grimaçon. Captured by the wicked Prince Blackwig and thrown into a subterranean dungeon, they are saved when Moonflower invokes the aid of a grateful river. Later, when an envious Queen-mother drives Moonflower into the clutches of a marsh-dwelling Enchanter, the King of the Crystal Mountains and the tireless dwarf brave treacherous slides and slimy bogs, risking their lives to rescue her and seal their union.

"The Dovecote" tells of a fugitive King and Queen hiding from rebel forces inside a ruined tower, where a mysterious old woman transforms the Queen into a white pigeon to gather intelligence. Though shot by a crossbow on her return flight, the wounded Queen bravely completes her mission, allowing her husband's army to crush the uprising.

Subsequent tales offer lighter, fantastical adventures: "The Pelican" follows a compassionate Cairo jeweler who rescues a captive bird, only to uncover secret court intrigues and win the heart of a brave melon-seller; "The Cherry Trees" sees a humble gardener's son outshine a selfish prince, winning a princess with the aid of a stylish, hat-wearing cat; and "Jack Frost" concludes the volume with a playful bedtime myth of a icy sprite chased out of a midnight garden by a nightcapped gardener and a watchful owl.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins A little boy peeping over the side of a fishing boat meets the Ugly Prince, setting sail for a distant, sunlit rock where a captive princess sits guarded by evil cormorants.

The trial of sacrifice The Prince claims the Golden Heart, braves subterranean caverns to steal a witch's magic shoe, and trudges through endless desert sands on cormorant wings until a magic fountain reveals his true beauty.

Exile in the wilderness The Sorcerer Badoko drags the weeping princesses Azalea and Anemone down a desolate river, unaware that a gossiping raven and a clever rook are carrying word of their captivity straight to the Emperor.

Flight through the forest Princess Moonflower and her loyal dwarf Grimaçon are ambushed by the wicked Prince Blackwig, but a magical river heeds Moonflower's call and helps them escape their subterranean cell.

The marshland rescue The King of the Crystal Mountains carries the exhausted Grimaçon across a foul, treacherous swamp to storm an Enchanter's glass tower and deliver Moonflower from captivity.

Wings of devotion Transformed into a white pigeon to scout an invading rebel fleet, a desperate Queen takes a crossbow bolt to the wing but staggers home to save her husband's throne.

The Cairo sanctuary A kindly jeweller buys a young pelican to save it from a butcher, sparking a chain of events that exposes family secrets and unites him with a brave melon-seller.

A icy retreat Jack Frost sneaks into a nighttime garden to nip at hollyhocks, only to be beaten with a stick by an angry gardener and forced to leap back to the safety of the moon.

The People

• The Ugly Prince: A noble warrior who hides his disfigured face beneath a mask. Driven by pure devotion, he takes on the cursed Golden Heart and endures grueling desert trials, eventually discovering that his heroic sacrifices have transformed his face into an image of sublime beauty.
• The Little Boy: An observant child from a humble fishing boat who becomes the Ugly Prince’s most trusted companion, cheering his friend on and waiting eagerly on the palace turrets for his triumphant return.
• Princess Moonflower: A gentle, modest maiden whose sheer goodness earns her the hatred of a wicked aunt and a jealous Queen-mother. She relies on her quick wit, magical allies, and unwavering virtue to survive captivity.
• Grimaçon: Moonflower's fiercely loyal, humpbacked dwarf companion. Despite his small stature and heavy hump, he braves dungeons, wild hunts, and slimy marshes to protect his beloved mistress.
• The King of the Crystal Mountains: A valiant, deeply enamored monarch who refuses to abandon Grimaçon in the treacherous swamps, physically carrying the dwarf on his back to rescue Moonflower from an Enchanter.
• Badoko: A ruthless, greedy sorcerer who kidnaps young princesses to sell to a wealthy dragon, completely indifferent to the suffering of his victims or the dishonor he brings upon his sons.

In Its Own Voice

"Left-foot shoe, left-foot shoe, Open, rock, and I’ll pass through,"

The Ugly Prince overhears the evil witch chanting these magical words inside her cavern, allowing him to steal her magic footwear and unlock the Great Gates at the edge of the world.

"Princess, should you need a friend, The grateful stream its aid will lend;"

A gentle voice sings these lines to Princess Moonflower after she clears a fallen branch from a struggling brook, granting her a powerful spell for times of dire need.

"There goes Jack Frost among the gooseberry bushes! There he is! This way! This way!"

A watchful owl hoots this warning to the gardener, helping him chase the mischievous, long-legged frost sprite out of the nighttime garden.

What It's Really About

Underneath its colorful array of enchanted animals, glass towers, and subterranean dungeons, the collection explores the relationship between external appearance and inner character. Time and again, physical beauty is revealed to be a reflection of moral worth, courage, and selflessness, while outer charm often masks cruelty and greed. The stories center on themes of quiet endurance and deep loyalty: victory belongs not to the proud or powerful, but to those willing to suffer pain and hardship for the sake of others. Through its humble protagonists—a masked prince, a humpbacked dwarf, a poor gardener's son, and a Cairo shopkeeper—the narrative asserts that true nobility is forged through empathy, integrity, and persistent devotion in the face of overwhelming odds.

Why Read It Today

This collection offers a refreshing return to classical fantasy storytelling, blending the sweeping romance of traditional folklore with vivid atmospheric detail and lively character interactions. Readers who appreciate the enchanted worlds of Andrew Lang or the Brothers Grimm will delight in the book's imaginative variety, which glides seamlessly from dramatic desert quests to humorous urban encounters in Cairo and playful bedtime fables.

The prose is crisp, accessible, and grounded in concrete imagery, maintaining a brisk pace that keeps each narrative engaging. While modern audiences will spot familiar period tropes—such as archetypal villains, helpless maidens in need of rescue, and straightforward moral lessons—the collection tempers these with charming wit, spirited animal allies, and deeply affectionate friendships. The bond between the Ugly Prince and the fishing boy, as well as the heroic camaraderie between the King and the humpbacked dwarf, give these fairy tales an enduring warmth. It is an ideal read for anyone seeking classic, beautifully crafted fantasy filled with heart and adventure.

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