This book contains the following story:
East of the Sun, West of the Moon
"East of the Sun and West of the Moon" is a traditional Norwegian fairy tale. Here's a summary of the plot:
The story follows a young woman, often referred to as "the lass" or "the girl," who lives with her poor family. One night, a great white bear comes to their door and offers them wealth and prosperity in exchange for their youngest daughter's company. The bear promises that the girl will be happy and well taken care of.
Despite her family's reluctance, the girl agrees to go with the bear to his distant castle. Every evening, the bear transforms into a handsome prince, and the girl becomes increasingly curious about his true identity. Her curiosity gets the better of her, and one night she decides to light a candle to see the prince's face. However, a drop of tallow falls on his shirt, waking him up. He explains that he is under a curse cast by a troll princess. He is allowed to be human only at night, and he must marry her to break the curse. The girl is heartbroken but resolved to help.
With the prince's guidance, the girl sets out on a perilous journey to find the troll princess's castle. She receives assistance from various magical creatures, including the Four Winds and the North Wind's steed. Along the way, she gathers useful gifts and advice. She eventually arrives at the troll princess's castle and uses the gifts to thwart the troll's attempts to deceive her.
After a series of challenges, the girl breaks the curse, and the prince is freed from the troll princess's enchantment. The two of them return to the prince's castle and live happily together. The story emphasizes the girl's bravery, resourcefulness, and determination to rescue the prince, even when faced with daunting obstacles.
"East of the Sun and West of the Moon" is often considered a variant of the "Beauty and the Beast" tale, featuring a determined young woman who embarks on a quest to save her love from a curse.
