Hamish Hamilton’s “A Book Of…” Myths, Legends and Magical Tales

Collecting  »  Myths, Legends, Folklore  »  Hamish Hamilton Myths

Introduction

This wonderful series collecting older short stories, folklore, poetry and excerpts from longer literature was released by UK publisher Hamish Hamilton in the 1960s. The selection of tales included in each book was made by a famous children’s author of the time, and wonderful illustrators with distinctively different styles were chosen for each volume as well.

Many of the books were released in paperback by Penguin under their Puffin imprint, and a couple by Beaver, as well as a few hardbacks in the US by Zwalk, but the complete set is only available in the Hamish Hamilton hardbacks. Each book works fine as a stand-alone thematic volume, but together they do make a lovely set if you’d like the whole collection.

Hamish Hamilton's "A Book Of..." Myths, Legends & Magical Tales

Introduction

This wonderful series collecting older short stories, folklore, poetry and excerpts from longer literature was released by UK publisher Hamish Hamilton in the 1960s. The selection of tales included in each book was made by a famous children’s author of the time, and wonderful illustrators with distinctively different styles were chosen for each volume as well.

Many of the books were released in paperback by Penguin under their Puffin imprint, and a couple by Beaver, as well as a few hardbacks in the US by Zwalk, but the complete set is only available in the Hamish Hamilton hardbacks. Each book works fine as a stand-alone thematic volume, but together they do make a lovely set if you’d like the whole collection.

List of books

Hamish Hamilton Book of Dragons Roger Lancelyn Green
hamish hamilton book of dragons green PB

A Book of Dragons – edited by Roger Lancelyn Green, illustrated by Krystyna Turska

A collection of over 40 dragon stories from literature and folklore.

Buy from Abes (OOP)


Hamish Hamilton Book of Giants William Mayne
hamish hamilton book of giants mayne PB

A Book of Giants – edited by William Mayne

Forty-two tales, legends, and poems from various countries, including Japan, India, and North America, about giants, goblins, demons, and other supernatural creatures.

Buy from Abes (OOP)


Hamish Hamilton Book of Goblins Alan Garner
hamish hamilton book of goblins garner PB

A Book of Goblins – edited by Alan Garner, illustrated by Krystyna Turska

A collection of goblin tales from around the world.

Buy from Abes (OOP)


Hamish Hamilton Book of Heroes Eleanor Farjeon
hamish hamilton book of heroes mayne PB

A Book of Heroes – edited by William Mayne, illustrated by Krystyna Turska

A collection of poetry, ballads, songs, myths and legends about heroes.

Buy from Abes (OOP)


hamish hamilton book of kings farjeon

No paperback issued. The similarly titled Puffin’s A Book of Kings and Queens by Eleanor and Herbert Farjeon (illustrated by Robin Jacques) is a collection of poetry, each dedicated to a different king or queen.

A Book of Kings – edited by Eleanor Farjeon and William Mayne, illustrated by Victor Ambrus

A collection of poems, short tales and excerpts of longer literature about both real and imaginary kings.

Buy from Abes (OOP)


Hamish Hamilton Book of Magical Beasts Ruth Manning Sanders

No paperback issued. Not to be confused with the large (and wonderful) Ruth Manning Sanders “A Book Of…” series that was published by Methuen and Dutton, and illustrated by Robin Jacques.

A Book of Magical Beasts – edited by Ruth Manning-Sanders, illustrated by Raymond Briggs

A collection of magical animal tales from around the world.

Buy from Abes (OOP)


Hamish Hamilton Book of Magicians Roger Lancelyn Green
hamish hamilton book of magicians green PB

A Book of Magicians – edited by Roger Lancelyn Green, illustrated by Victor Ambrus

A collection of tales about magicians from around the world.

Buy from Abes (OOP)


hamish hamilton book of myths hope

No paperback issued.

A Book of Myths and Legends – edited by Jacynth Hope-Simpson, illustrated by Raymond Briggs

Buy from Abes (OOP)


Hamish Hamilton Book of Other Worlds Roger Lancelyn Green
beaver book of other worlds green PB

A Book of Other Worlds – edited by Roger Lancelyn Green, illustrated by Victor Ambrus

Buy from Abes (OOP)


hamish hamilton book of princes sinclair
Hamish Hamilton's "A Book Of..." Myths, Legends and Magical Tales

A Book of Princes (aka ‘Parade of Princes’) – edited by Christopher Sinclair-Stevenson, illustrated by Fritz Wegner

→ Buy from Abes (OOP)


hamish hamilton book of princesses
puffin-book-of-princesses

A Book of Princesses – edited by Sally Patrick Johnson, illustrated by Fritz Wegner

→ Buy from Abes (OOP)


hamish hamilton book of queens farjeon

No paperback issued. The similarly titled Puffin’s A Book of Kings and Queens by Eleanor and Herbert Farjeon (illustrated by Robin Jacques) is a collection of poetry, each dedicated to a different king or queen.

A Cavalcade of Queens – edited by Michael Brown, illustrated by Victor Ambrus

Buy from Abes (OOP)


hamish hamilton book of sea legends brown
puffin book of sea legends brown PB

A Book of Sea Legends (aka A Cavalcade of Sea Legends) – edited by Michael Brown, illustrated by Krystyna Turska

Buy from Abes (OOP)


hamish hamilton book of animals dillon

No paperback issued.

A Book of Wise Animals – edited by Eilís Dillon, illustrated by Bernard Brett

Buy from Abes (OOP)


hamish hamilton book of witches hope
beaver book of witches hope PB

A Book of Witches (aka ‘Covens & Cauldrons’) – edited by Jacynth Hope-Simpson, illustrated by Krystyna Turska

Buy from Abes (OOP)


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