Distinguished author Barbara Leonie Picard says that during World War II she sought to "forget the sad war days by writing fairy tales: simply because I had always liked fairy tales." After the war, she continued to create stories full of adventure and romance and tinged with melancholy in the best tradition of storytellers of old. Now, in this new book, she has chosen her favorites to be gathered together for the first time. The Sea King's Daughter --the first fairy tale Ms. Picard ever wrote--is a concise and masterful tale of a prince, his new bride, and a scorned and powerful maiden from the sea. Promises are made and broken, and the prince learns the price true love demands. In Count Alaric's Lady a young man discovers that his lady is not from his world, but from that of the "fairy people." Only by offering her a perfect love will he keep her by his side.

Little Lady Margaret lives a lonely life that promises to get only gloomier until she learns to weave herself into her needlepoint tapestry. These stories and 13 others, full of magic and wonder, are distinguished by Ms. Picard's gracefully simple prose and by the exquisite black and white line drawings of Julia Cobbold. This is a collection that will charm readers of all ages.