
audiobook
CHAPTER I. THE THREE PRINCESSES.
CHAPTER II. KING BRONDÉ.
CHAPTER III. THE WOOD-CUTTER’S CHILDREN.
CHAPTER IV. THE CAVE.
CHAPTER V. MEETING OF THE FAIRIES.
CHAPTER VI. GOING A HUNTING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT.
CHAPTER VII. ESCAPING FROM PERILS.
CHAPTER VIII. LIFE AT THE SEA-SHORE.
CHAPTER IX. THE FLOWER-GARDEN.
CHAPTER X. A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.
In the mist‑shrouded Long Forest, the winding Robbers’ Road climbs to the glittering palace of King Brondé. Marble statues, gilded roofs and fountains filled with gold‑ and silver‑scaled fish turn a weary trek into awe. Within, crimson drapes, crystal‑sugar parrots and lambs with pastel ribbons create a realm where beauty borders on the fantastical, centered on the Pale Lady, a queen whose blue eyes hold a tender, sorrowful light as she watches a cradled infant.
The queen’s grief is palpable; she whispers to the child, searching for a wish she cannot yet name, and lifts a silver whistle that releases a melody unlike any other. A dark‑eyed boy in a scarlet turban slips silently into the chamber, delivering a mysterious casket which the queen opens with reverent hands. From its hidden drawers she extracts an alabaster cup and uncovers a secret picture, hinting at a forgotten promise or ancient magic. Listeners are invited to follow her quiet quest and discover what lies beneath the kingdom’s shining veneer.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (150K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Ticknor and Fields, 1868,pubdate 1869.
Credits
Steve Mattern, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Release date
2022-08-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1821–1904
A warm, witty writer for children, she also put her energy into reform, from women’s rights to labor issues. Her best-known books mix humor with a deep faith in children’s goodness.
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