A Book of Giants

infobox Book |
name = A Book of Giants
title_orig =
translator =
author = Ruth Manning-Sanders
cover_artist = Robin Jacques
illustrator = Robin Jacques
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Fairy Tales
publisher = E. P. Dutton
release_date = 1963
media_type = Print (hardcover)
pages = 125 pp

A Book of Giants is a 1963 anthology of 13 fairy tales from Europe that have been collected and retold by Ruth Manning-Sanders. It is one in a long series of such anthologies by Manning-Sanders. It was the first anthology to receive the familiar "A Book of..." title that Manning-Sanders would become notable for.

This book was first published in the United Kingdom in 1962, by Methuen & Co. Ltd.

Some of tales from this book are recollected in "A Choice of Magic" (1971) by Manning-Sanders. And some of tales from this book are recollected in "Folk and Fairy Tales" (1978) by Manning-Sanders.

And in the foreword, Manning-Sanders discusses the long-ago roots of tales about giants: "The stories in this book are very old, and they come from many countries. We don't know who first told the story of Jack and the Beanstalk; but it has always been a favourite, and it used to be hawked around England in those little stitched-together pamphlets, called chapbooks, which travelling pedlars sold to the countryfolk for a penny or two each."

The author adds: "You will notice that the giants, wherever they come from, have one thing in common: they are all very stupid, and the way to overcome them is to use your wits."

Table of contents

*1. Jack and the Beanstalk (England)
*2. The Giant and the Dwarf (Georgia)
*3. Fin M'Coul and Cucullin (Ireland)
*4. Sneezy Snatcher and Sammy Small (Cornwall)
*5. Hans, the Horn, and the Magic Sword (Jutland)
*6. Jack the Giant-Killer (Cornwall):i. Jack and the Giant Cormoran:ii. Jack and the Giant Tantarem:iii. Jack and the Welsh Giant:iv. Jack, the King of England's Son, and the Giant with Three Heads:v. Jack and the Giant Thunderdell:vi. Jack, the Giant Galligantua, and the Enchanter
*7. King Johnny (Slavic)
*8. Conall Yellowclaw (Ireland and Scotland)
*9. The Giant in the Cave (Ireland and Scotland)
*10. The Brave Little Tailor (Germany)
*11. The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body (Norse)
*12. The Three Golden Hairs of the King of the Cave Giants (Germany)
*13. Prince Loaf (Romania)

ee also

*Giant (mythology)