The Windfairies and Other Tales

The Windfairies and Other Tales gathers fairy stories by the English writer Mary De Morgan, first published in 1900.

De Morgan wrote in the golden age of literary fairy tales, alongside friends like William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, but her stories always had a sharper edge than most. Her witches are not always wicked, her princesses are not always patient, and her magic tends to teach lessons no one expects. Expect windswept kingdoms, small acts of courage, and endings that turn out kinder or stranger than the setup promised.

This is old-fashioned fantasy with real bite to it, closer in spirit to Oscar Wilde's fairy tales than to the sanitized versions many of us grew up with. It's a good pick for listeners who love Victorian fairy tales, folklore with a wry, knowing voice, and heroines who think for themselves.

Each story unspools at an easy, unhurried pace. No need to follow every turn tonight — let the wind carry these tales past you, and doze off before the last one ends.