Review of The Complete and Original Norwegian Folktales of Asbjørnsen and Moe

At Rhino.

Teaser quote: The structure of these narratives was geared towards killing time. This factor is not always understood. Look at bedtime stories. The kiddies don’t care at all about the content; they just want you to stay with them. They want to have the sensation of being serviced. The only reason they need the stories to be intelligible at all is ’cuz it’s fatiguing to have to listen to something you don’t understand.

[originally posted Saturday 7 December 2019]