Christmas Tales of Flanders is a profusely illustrated volume containing 23 illustrated Fables and legends from Flanders and Brabant. Even today these tales are still loved by children of all ages throughout Belgium. Many of the tales are found in different guises in the folklore of many nations, but here they are presented with a Flemish twist, taking the place of the more commonly told nursery stories familiar in the UK and in other Western nations. The first relates the tale of a rich woman who turns a beggar away from her door at Christmas, who is then welcomed by her poor neighbour, who provides food and shelter freely given. She is of course rewarded for her actions, whilst the rich neighbour pays a price for her meanness of spirit, a tale retold with variations in most cultures. Then the tale of Seppy presents a man who complains that he works hard in the fields while his wife idles her time away at home, so they decide to swap jobs for a day. After his catastrophic day looking after the house and the ensuing chaos, Seppy learns not to complain about others and realises he is not the only one who works hard. There are tales to make you take care for what you wish for (Tintelentyn and The Wonderful Fish) and others showing how bad acts can rebound and repay with interest. All the tales use humour to demonstrate life's lessons to the young, and young at heart. The tales themselves are delightfully enhanced by the illustrations by Jean de Bosschere, a Belgian artist and writer (1878-1953) associated with the Golden Age of Illustration. This volume contains 12 lovely colour illustrations and more than 120 monotone and two colour images (ranging in size from full-page to vignettes). De Bosschere’s work is considered to be in same league as Harry Clarke or Willy Pogany. Whomever his work is compared to, the work of Jean de Bosschere - like that of other great illustrators - is unique, so much so that many of his illustrated books were published as limited editions. 10% of the profit from the sale of this book will be donated to charity.

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