On a Pincushion

This was Mary De Morgan’s first book of fairy tales, published in 1877 with illustrations by her brother, the ceramic artist William De Morgan. Rather than retelling old stories, she invented her own, and they carry a distinct flavor: sharp, sometimes sorrowful, and unafraid to let greed or cleverness lead a character to a bad end. The tales range from the small drama named in the title to stories of princesses, enchantments, and hard bargains, all told in a plain and confident voice that De Morgan honed by reading aloud to the children of William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. For readers who like their fairy tales with real teeth, this is a rewarding collection. Free to download in PDF and EPUB.