Episode 25: “The Marvelous Minstrel”

The Marvelous Minstrel…or perhaps the PSYCHOPATH MINSTREL, because seriously…this guy is a jerk. The ASPCA would *not* approve. And, quite frankly, neither do I.

Check out Princess Alethea’s Rant about this fairy tale HERE.

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Episode 24: “The Companionship of the Cat and The Mouse”

A fairy tale in which…well…cats will be cats and mice will be mice, and that’s just the way of the world.

Check out Princess Alethea’s Rant about this fairy tale HERE.

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Episode 23: “The Foundling”

This fairy tale (also known as “Fundevogel”) is the basis for the origin of Trix Woodcutter’s character in Enchanted.

If you prefer to listen on YouTube you can here, courtesy of The Book Rat:

Also, be sure to check out Princess Alethea’s YouTube Rant about this fairy tale HERE.

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Episode 22: “Tom Thumb” (13:47)

Here’s a treat after last week — the infamous tale of tiny hero Tom Thumb. This tale is his origin story and only some of his adventures — the tale is continued in “Tom Thumb’s Travels,” which is a separate piece.

I had a lot of fun with the voices on this one. Enjoy!

Check out Princess Alethea’s YouTube Rant about this fairy tale HERE.

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Episode 21: “The Golden Key” (1:16)

This should hardly qualify as an episode of the podcast, as the tale of The Golden Key is little over a minute long. The tale itself is just as disappointing…with sort of a “Lady and the Tiger” ending. It makes me wonder why the Grimm Brothers would have included it in their folk tales at all. Any boy who finds a key — golden or otherwise — and a box is going to try and open the box. Right??

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People are always wondering how to say my name. Every so often, I have to make a post and remind them.

Thanks to clever Audacity and the fabulous microphone on my Powerbook, I can say it for you aloud so there is no misunderstanding. READY?!?

Say it with me: ALETHEA KONTIS

Now I’m going to stick this on my FAQs.

Hooray for technology!

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Episode 20: “Mother Hulda” (7:18)

Mother Hulda, or Frau Holle, is possibly the goddess of Hell, a goddess of marriage, and/or goddess of the weather. Prompted by a footnote in my book, I looked up Mother Hulde on Wikipedia:

The legend itself, as it was eventually passed to the Grimm Brothers, originates from oral traditions in Central Germany in what is now known as Hesse. It was told to them by Henriette Dorothea Wild (whom Wilhelm Grimm married in 1825) with more details added in the second edition (1819). It is still common expression in Hesse to say “Hulda is making her bed” when it is snowing, that is, she shakes her bed and out comes snow from heaven!

The dog days of summer are always a great time to think of snow. Shake it, Mother Hulda!

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Episode 19: “The Three Spinners” (6:11)

I’d almost say this tale was a retelling, if I hadn’t read it from The Brothers Grimm with my own eyes. “The Three Spinners” is a…well..spin on “Rumplestiltskin,” starring a girl as clever as she is lazy.

I won’t give away any spoilers, but I have a feeling that my romance writer friends are going to *love* this twist.

Check out Princess Alethea’s YouTube Rant about this fairy tale HERE.

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Episode 18: “Sweetheart Roland” (8:58)

Imagine, after escaping from certain death and all you had been through together, that your sweetheart leaves you for another woman. At the end of the story it sounds like Roland had been put under a spell by this woman, but I didn’t really get that while I was reading it. See what you think. Will the stepdaughter and Roland *really* live happily ever after?

Also: that must have been some apron. Two people died for it! (I do love the idea of talking blood drops, though.)

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Episode 17: “The White Snake” (9:35)

Whenever I read this type of story I always wonder who it was that first ate a white snake and realized he could suddenly hear animals speak. For that matter, I would love to see a fairy tale version of Chopped. “In your entree basket: “Whole duck, leg of Horse, White Snake, and an apple from the Tree of Life. You have thirty minutes. Time starts…now!” Can you imagine what magical powers that dish would have? Wow!

(Production note: You might notice a very loud bird that did not have the courtesy to shut up while I was recording this episode. I let it be…I felt a chirping bird was rather appropriate for a story about a man given the power to talk to animals.)

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