"Rumpelstiltskin" is based on German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm in the 1812 edition of Children's and Household Tales. The story is about a fairy who spins straw into gold in exchange for the Queen’s firstborn.

The same story pattern appears in numerous other cultures including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, South America, Hungary, Japan and France.

The Cornish tale of Duffy and the Devil plays out an essentially similar plot featuring a "devil" named Terry-top.

Copyright 2024 Steve Adams

Bedtime Stories for Children is produced by Magic Monorail