A Collection of Eastern Stories and Legends: for narration or later reading in schools

Written by Marie. L. Shedlock

Narrated by Russell Stamets

In offering this volume to teachers, my chief aim is to provide material for narration which shall deal, not with things temporal but with the “ Eternal Verities.” These, if presented to our boys and girls in dramatic form, at the most impressionable period of their lives, will sink deeply into their minds. When presented in more direct and didactic fashion, the same truths often fail to impress. These stories of the Buddha are not for one age or one country, but for all time and for the world.

I have suggested their meaning in the index to enable teachers to -see the contents at a glance. I strongly urge that little or no explanation should be offered to the children themselves. They will be sufficiently interested in the dramatic setting to absorb (unconsciously) the meaning of the story.

The book is not intended primarily for children to read but for teachers to use in telling these tales, but' when they have received the dramatic impression through the telling, they will have an added interest in reading the book for themselves.

I have purposely avoided using illustrations to these stories. I want the children to make the mental picture suggested to them by the spoken word, and if they read the story afterwards, I do not wish to force them to abandon their own conception and adopt a general one, because this would mean eliminating one of the most potent educational factors in the telling of the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Corner OfficeBooks
• Release date: Dec 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664935440

Marie. L. Shedlock

Marie Louise Shedlock (1854–1935) was an early and influential practitioner of the art of storytelling. She recorded her advice on oral performance in her book The Art of the Story-Teller. Shedlock was born in Boulogne, France of English parents; her father was an engineer helping to build a railroad. Although she lived in England for a short time as a child, she returned to France, and ultimately went to Germany to complete her education. Shedlock's first job was as a schoolteacher. She taught school in England from age 21. At age 36 she began her career as a storyteller, having a debut performance in London. At age 46 she ceased teaching and began her career as a professional storyteller. She had two extended and well-received tours in the United States. Shedlock's first U. S. tour took place around 1900 and lasted seven years. Mary Wright Plummer, director of the Pratt Institute Library attended one of her public recitals and invited her to perform. Anne Carroll Moore head of the children's library at Pratt invited Shedlock to return to Pratt and tell stories to children.[3] Her first American tour lasted seven years. After this first tour, Shedlock returned to London, later writing her two books.[1] Shedlock's second U. S. tour began in 1915 and ran for five years. Shedlock died in January 1935.