A Book of Giants
An anthology of 13 European fairy tales about giants.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
A Book of Giants is a 1962 anthology of 13 European fairy tales, collected and retold by Ruth Manning-Sanders. Published in the United Kingdom by Methuen & Co. Ltd., it was the first of Manning-Sanders’s many anthologies to use the “A Book of…” title she later became known for. The collection has been used in schools as a study resource.
In the foreword, Manning-Sanders notes that the stories are very old and come from many countries. She points out that the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, for example, was once sold in chapbooks by traveling pedlars. She also observes that the giants in these tales share a common trait: they are all very stupid, and the way to defeat them is by using one’s wits.
The book includes tales from England, Georgia, Ireland, Cornwall, Jutland, Slavic regions, Germany, Norse tradition, and Romania. Some of these stories later appeared in Manning-Sanders’s *A Choice of Magic* (1971) and *Folk and Fairy Tales* (1978).
Kirkus Reviews gave the book a starred review, praising Manning-Sanders’s direct narration and Robin Jacques’s fine-lined drawings, which contrast large and small figures and capture the essence of giantdom with a light touch. *The Observer* noted the inviting jacket by Jacques and remarked that while myths have often been unfair to giants, the creatures remain tied to nursery lore, especially when portrayed as kindly, stupid fellows easily outwitted by sharp little dwarfs. The review also observed that the tales come from sources as varied as Russian Georgia and Jutland, yet are not so different from one another.
- title
- A Book of Giants
- author
- Ruth Manning-Sanders
- published
- 1963 (first published in the UK in 1962)
- publisher
- Methuen & Co. Ltd.
- genre
- Fairy tale anthology
- number_of_tales
- 13
- notable_for
- First in the 'A Book of...' series by Manning-Sanders
Lore & Background
The anthology includes tales from England, Georgia, Ireland, Cornwall, Jutland, Slavic regions, Germany, Norse tradition, and Romania. Some of these tales were later included in Manning-Sanders' anthologies A Choice of Magic (1971) and Folk and Fairy Tales (1978). In the foreword, Manning-Sanders discusses the ancient roots of giant tales, noting that the story of Jack and the Beanstalk was once hawked in chapbooks by traveling pedlars. She observes that giants in these stories are all very stupid and can be overcome by using one's wits.
Reader's Guide
A Book of Giants holds significance as the inaugural volume in Ruth Manning-Sanders' long-running 'A Book of...' series, establishing the format and title pattern that would define her career as a collector and reteller of fairy tales. Its use in schools as a study aid indicates its educational value. The book received a Kirkus star, with praise for Manning-Sanders' direct narration and Robin Jacques' illustrations, which were noted for capturing the contrast between large and small. The Observer review highlighted the book's inclusion of tales from diverse regions and its treatment of giants as kindly, stupid fellows easily outwitted. The anthology's legacy lies in its role in preserving and popularizing European folklore for a mid-20th-century audience.
Did You Know?
- A Book of Giants was the first anthology to receive the 'A Book of...' title that Manning-Sanders would become notable for.
- Some tales from this book were later included in A Choice of Magic (1971) and Folk and Fairy Tales (1978).
- The book was first published in the United Kingdom in 1962 by Methuen & Co. Ltd.
- Kirkus Reviews gave the book a Kirkus star and praised Robin Jacques' illustrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Book of Giants?
It is a 1962 fairy-tale anthology put together by Ruth Manning-Sanders, gathering thirteen European stories that all centre on giant characters. The volume was issued in the UK by Methuen & Co. Ltd. and served as the debut of Manning-Sanders's now-familiar "A Book of…" anthology series.
Who collected and retold the tales in A Book of Giants?
Ruth Manning-Sanders gathered and rewrote the thirteen stories from a wide range of European countries. In her foreword she stresses just how ancient the narratives are, pointing out that well-known tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk were once hawked by travelling pedlars in cheap chapbooks.
How many stories does A Book of Giants contain and what do they have in common?
The collection holds thirteen European fairy tales, each featuring a giant in some capacity. Manning-Sanders drew them from many different countries, underscoring their great age and oral origins.
Why is A Book of Giants considered important in fairy-tale literature?
It was the first volume to carry Manning-Sanders's signature "A Book of…" title, kicking off a long line of themed anthologies she went on to produce. The book has also found a lasting place in classrooms as a study resource for young readers exploring folk narratives.
When and where was A Book of Giants first published?
The book first appeared in the United Kingdom in 1962 through Methuen & Co. Ltd. It is sometimes catalogued as a 1963 publication, a discrepancy that likely reflects a later printing or a separate edition.
More in Giants in popular culture 1-24
Elsewhere in the Giants in Popular Culture universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record