The Key of Gold: 23 Czech Folk Tales


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.6 stars; 14 reviews)

Not your common fairy tales, this collection is a mixture of morals, quirkiness, and sarcasm. In it one finds ironic derivatives (if not roots) of well known fairy tales such as “The Brave Little Taylor” and “Beauty and the Beast,” as well as some more unusual settings to impart the popular fairy tale themes of justice and happily ever after. Most stories are told with wry humor and often shocking irreverence for the expected fairy tale turn out. This is NOT a book for children, but one for adults who love fairy tales, and enjoy making fun of them.

DISCLAIMER: Story 09 contains some racially offensive material in its ending. Due to the LibriVox mission of reading, rather than rewriting, literature in the public domain, it has not been omitted from this anthology.

(Summary by MariaSC) (3 hr 40 min)

Chapters

Introduction 5:13 Read by Maria Celano
The Twelve Months 17:35 Read by Maria Celano
VÍTAZKO 28:23 Read by Maria Celano
Boots, Cloak, and Ring 13:56 Read by Brian Knapp
Silly Jura 6:02 Read by Jessica Orlando
Sleepy John 9:04 Read by Peter Yearsley
Three Doves 31:26 Read by Christiane Levesque
The Bear, the Eagle, and the Fish 6:31 Read by Maria Celano
Kojata 7:38 Read by Maddie
Shepherd Hynek 21:01 Read by Brian Knapp
The Three Roses 4:15 Read by Alys AtteWater
The Enchanted Princess 11:42 Read by featherheadfop
The Twin Brothers 10:26 Read by Alys AtteWater
The Waternick 6:19 Read by Christiane Levesque
The Man Who Met Misery 4:57 Read by Maddie
Nine at a Blow 6:35 Read by Brian Knapp
A Clever Lass 5:48 Read by Maddie
The Soldier and the Devil 6:24 Read by Christiane Levesque
Old Nick and Kitty 3:31 Read by Elizabeth Palmer
The Knight Bambus 4:12 Read by featherheadfop
Francis and Martin 4:11 Read by Christiane Levesque
Witches at the Cross 1:27 Read by Christiane Levesque
The Witch and the Horseshoes 1:53 Read by Elizabeth Palmer
The Haunted Mill 1:38 Read by Christiane Levesque