[TRoMF] E. H. Knatchbull-Hugessen - "Puss-cat Mew"

[Old Timer]

I was reminded of reading "Puss-cat Mew" by E. H. Knatchbull-Hugessen almost 20 years ago. This BTW is a story that Tolkien not only read, but it is recorded that he was very fond of this particular story. Before 1900, he read from an old collection that contained this story. The story contains, fairies (elves), ogres(giants) of various sizes from about 10-12 tall up to one that each step is 10 yards (30 feet) and it notes that they are wont to say "Fe-fi-fo-fum" a song popular among ogres. One ogre disguises himself as a tree, perhaps the origin of ents. It also has dwarfs, evil ones in league with the ogres, and it states that they love to eat human brains. He also gains three magical items in the course of the story. It is very D&Dish.


TRoMF = The Roots of Modern Fantasy

[Old Timer]

E. H. Knatchbull-Hugessen (the first Lord Brabourne) wrote fourteen books of fairy tales, beginning with Stories for My Children (1869). Another is Friends and Foes from Fairy-land (1886). A book called Some Whispers from Fairyland : Stories Old and New contains two complete stories, The Lost Prince and The Silver Fairies. I haven't found the others yet.

[Old Timer]

Victorian Sources of Fairy Tales: (1) A Collection of Researches

Volume 1
Fairy Tales, Now First Collected

Volume 2
Illustrations of the Fairy Mythology of a Midsummer's Night's Dream (1845)

Volume 3
Fairy Tales, Their Origin and Meaning, with Some Account of Dwellers in Fairyland (1878)

Volume 4
The Testimony of Tradition (1890) and Fians, Fairies and Picts (1893

Volume 5
The Science of Fairytales (1891),

This set of 5 volumes was published in 2002 for the price of $595.00. Unfortunately the publisher chose to go after a very small audience, maybe someday it will be available to the general public.

Victorian Sources of Fairy Tales: (2) A Collection of Stories

Volume 1
General Introduction by Robert A. Gilbert
Charles Lamb, Beauty and the Beast (1887)
Charles Lamb, Prince Dorus (1887)
Fairy Tales, or, The Court of Oberon: Containing Fourteen Choice Pieces by the Celebrated Queen Mab, Mother Goose, Mother Bunch, Master Puck, and Other Distinguished Personages... (1828)

Volume 2
Anthony Hamilton, Fairy Tales and Romances (1849)

Volume 3
Mrs D.M. Craik, The Fairy Book. The best popular fairy stories selected and rendered anew (1863)

Volume 4
George MacDonald, Dealings with the Fairies (1867)

Volume 5
E.H. Knatchbull-Hugessen [Lord Brabourne], Friends and Foes from Fairyland (1886)

This set of 5 volumes was published in March of 2003 for the price of $595.00. Unfortunately the publisher chose to go after a very small audience, maybe someday it will be available to the general public.

[Molcho]

Aug 9, 2022 20:46:03 GMT -5 Old Timer said:

I was reminded of reading "Puss-cat Mew" by E. H. Knatchbull-Hugessen almost 20 years ago. This BTW is a story that Tolkien not only read, but it is recorded that he was very fond of this particular story. Before 1900, he read from an old collection that contained this story. The story contains, fairies (elves), ogres(giants) of various sizes from about 10-12 tall up to one that each step is 10 yards (30 feet) and it notes that they are wont to say "Fe-fi-fo-fum" a song popular among ogres. One ogre disguises himself as a tree, perhaps the origin of ents. It also has dwarfs, evil ones in league with the ogres, and it states that they love to eat human brains. He also gains three magical items in the course of the story. It is very D&Dish.


TRoMF = The Roots of Modern Fantasy

That might well be the origin of ents. Maybe not on a conscious level, but that percolated in his brain for years.

[Dartanian]

Aug 9, 2022 20:48:56 GMT -5 Old Timer said:

Victorian Sources of Fairy Tales: (1) A Collection of Researches

Volume 1
Fairy Tales, Now First Collected

Volume 2
Illustrations of the Fairy Mythology of a Midsummer's Night's Dream (1845)

Volume 3
Fairy Tales, Their Origin and Meaning, with Some Account of Dwellers in Fairyland (1878)

Volume 4
The Testimony of Tradition (1890) and Fians, Fairies and Picts (1893

Volume 5
The Science of Fairytales (1891),

This set of 5 volumes was published in 2002 for the price of $595.00. Unfortunately the publisher chose to go after a very small audience, maybe someday it will be available to the general public.

Victorian Sources of Fairy Tales: (2) A Collection of Stories

Volume 1
General Introduction by Robert A. Gilbert
Charles Lamb, Beauty and the Beast (1887)
Charles Lamb, Prince Dorus (1887)
Fairy Tales, or, The Court of Oberon: Containing Fourteen Choice Pieces by the Celebrated Queen Mab, Mother Goose, Mother Bunch, Master Puck, and Other Distinguished Personages... (1828)

Volume 2
Anthony Hamilton, Fairy Tales and Romances (1849)

Volume 3
Mrs D.M. Craik, The Fairy Book. The best popular fairy stories selected and rendered anew (1863)

Volume 4
George MacDonald, Dealings with the Fairies (1867)

Volume 5
E.H. Knatchbull-Hugessen [Lord Brabourne], Friends and Foes from Fairyland (1886)

This set of 5 volumes was published in March of 2003 for the price of $595.00. Unfortunately the publisher chose to go after a very small audience, maybe someday it will be available to the general public.

I would love to get my hands on these.