
BLUEBEARD—AND OTHER FOLKLORE STORIES - I—BLUEBEARD
II—THE BLOOD-STAINED KEY
III—A GOBLIN IN A BOTTLE
IV—A SCHOLAR’S FORTUNE
V—YALLERY BROWN
VI—A TROUBLESOME HELPER
VII—THE LITTLE JACKAL
VIII—THE BLIND OGRE
IX—SEVEN DOVES
X—TIME AND HIS MOTHER
A wealthy man with a striking blue beard lives in a sumptuous mansion filled with gold, silk and fine furnishings. Though his appearance frightens many, his generosity and charm eventually win over Fatima, the younger of two sisters, who agrees to become his wife. Their early days together are marked by lavish celebrations, feasts, and the promise of a life surrounded by beauty.
When Bluebeard must travel for weeks, he entrusts Fatima with the keys to every room—except one, sealed by a small polished steel key. Curiosity gnaws at her, and despite her husband’s warning, she slips into the forbidden chamber. Inside, she discovers a chilling scene that shatters her optimism, leaving her trembling with fear and a lingering blood‑stained key in her hand.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (84K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Sep 17, 2011
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1865–1940
A prolific New England writer who turned country roads, village life, and far-off journeys into vivid books filled with his own photographs and illustrations. His work has an easy, observant charm that makes everyday scenes feel worth lingering over.
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