The Firebird

A dynamic tale, made famous by Igor Stravinsky's ballet with music, was first collected by the nineteenth-century folklorist A.N. Afanasyev. It tells how a young huntsman, finding by accident a feather of the fabulous Firebird, is instructed by the King to capture the bird itself. The task is a formidable one and the huntsman despairs; it is his horse who tells him how to accomplish the mission. But the King is not satisfied with the gift; he commands the huntsman to fetch for him the most beautiful princess in the world, then her wedding dress, which lies hidden beneath a stone at the bottom of the sea. Each of these things the huntsman does, with the help of his magic horse. Of course, the King will never be satisfied, however many of his commands are carried out and in the end the huntsman is faced with what seems to be the ultimate impossible challenge. But then, the King has not reckoned with the huntsman's horse.? Selina Hastings has retold two Arthurian legends "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and "Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady" (winner of the 1985 Kate Greenaway medal), and the traditional tales "Peter and the Wolf', "The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever", "The Singing Ringing Tree" and "Reynard the Fox", as well as a selection of stories from "The Canterbury Tales" Reg Cartwright was already a successful painter when he won the 1980 Mother Goose Award for Mr Potter's Pigeon. Since then he has produced many-picture books in partnership with his wife Ann, as well as the Walker titles PETER AND THE WOLF; THE MAN WHO WANTED TO LIVE FOR EVER; THE CANTERBURY TALES and BIRDS BEASTS AND FISHES. He lives in Leicestershire. A powerful and popular Russian fairy tale that many will know from Stravinsky's ballet; This team has produced several outstanding retellings, including THE MAN WHO WANTED TO LIVE FOR EVER.