author
Marie Harriette Frary
b. 1883
Known for retelling myths and legends for young readers, this early 20th-century writer helped bring folklore’s wonder, danger, and moral clarity into short, memorable stories. Her best-known work gathers traditional tales into a form that feels both lively and accessible.
1 Audiobook
The Crystal Palace and Other Legends
by Marie Harriette Frary, Charles Maurice Stebbins
About the author
Marie Harriette Frary (1883–1964) is identified by LibriVox as an author and collector of legends and myth stories. The surviving record that is easiest to confirm today is quite small, but it consistently links her name with folklore retellings rather than with novels or memoir.
Her best-known book is The Crystal Palace and Other Legends (1909), written with Charles Maurice Stebbins. Project Gutenberg’s text of the book explains that the volume was shaped for children, especially readers around eight to ten years old, with an emphasis on legends that show "simplicity, strength, and beauty." That aim fits the stories most often associated with her, including pieces such as "The Lorelei," "The Giant Maiden," "The Magic Ring," "The Crystal Palace," and "The Sunken City."
Because reliable biographical details are limited in the sources I could confirm, it is safest to remember Frary as a writer and adapter who helped preserve traditional tales for younger audiences. Her work sits comfortably in the long tradition of story collections that introduce children to myth, folklore, and old-world legend through clear, inviting prose.