"Conquering kings their titles take..” but what happens to princes in fairy tales? It is the opinion of the editor of this collection that princes have been neglected, especially by the writers of modern fairy tales. The intention of this book is to redress the balance and to give princes the attention they deserve.

It turns out, of course, that princes are as worthy of a volume to themselves as stern kings, fair princesses, or wicked queens, and here is a collection to prove it. Represented are some of the best-known and widely diverse authors of the last two centuries, including James Thurber, A. A. Milne, E. Nesbit, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Eleanor Farjeon, George MacDonald, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, and Frank Stockton.

The princes, too, differ from each other as does any random collection of individuals, whether or not of royal blood. There is little similarity between Anthony Armstrong's Prince Pointedface (probably one of the nastiest possible princes), James Thurber's delightful Prince Gallow, and Mary de Morgan's brave and unselfish Prince Michael. They are alike only in that each encounters his full share of witches, sorcerers, strange beasts, and
damsels in distress in adventures that are at times amusing, at times frightening, but always delightful.

If any further word in the cause of princes is required, the undecided reader will finally be won over to their side by the wit and charm of Fritz Wegner's black and white drawings.

From the dust jacket of the W.W. Norton reprint edition