Introduction The Tales of Beedle The Bard is referred to quite a few times in the Harry Potter series
as a wizarding children classic. The most famous reference to the book is when Albus Dumbledore talks about The Tale of Three
Brothers in reference with the invisible cloak which Harry has and the Elder Wand. Being an avid HP fan, I had to check this book out.
The Tales of Beedle The Bard
The book is a collection of bedtime stories aimed at young witches and wizards. As the stories are independent of each other there is no central theme about the book, only individual stories with individual morals.
The Wizard and the Hopping Pot: Albus Dumbledore once famously quoted, With great power comes great responsibility. This story is aimed to teach the young wizards the responsibilities they owe to the society in general especially the Muggles around them. The story is of a young wizard who hates Muggles, but recieves an inheritence from his father which changes his perception.
The Fountain of Fair Fortune: This classic talks about the power to solving our problems lies within ourselves, but we need to really make an effort for the same. The story
revolves around 4 individuals, three witches and a knight, who all have problems and think that their problems might be resolved by bathing in the Fountain of Fair Fortune.
The Warlock's Hairy Heart: Most horrific of the tales in the book, this tale tells the story of how depriving oneself of love makes one a lesser individual. The story revolves around a very capable wizard who thinks that love will detract him from greatness. To this end he cuts out his heart and keeps it separate, but alas, he finds that things are not as he feels they are.
Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump: The story revolves around a witch who works as a laundry lady under a king. The King is foolish enough to think that he can be the greatest magician and he can be taught magic and he proclaims that whomsoever teaches him magic would be given a high post. One trickster decides to take the offer of the king. Check the story for the details.
The Tale of Three Brothers: Probably the most famous of the tales of Beedle the Bard, owing to the reference in HP series, this talks about the eternal truth that you can only delay but not cheat death forever. The story revolves around three brothers who manage to cheat death once. The defeated death still wants to claim all three, so offers to give them a gift each with this intention. Check out what happens to the three brothers and what these gifts are.
Critic's Viewpoint With the sole exception of The Warlock's Hairy Heart all other stories of this book are a refreshing throwback to the first book of the Harry Potter series. The reason is the writing is as simple and childlike as the first book of the HP series. Some of these stories can easily be read and understood by kids on their own.
The language is not only simple, but also some of the morales coming out of the stories are simple and straightforward and will definitely appeal to the young followers of the HP series. To keep the adult followers intact, JK Rowling has included a commentary by Albus Dumbledore to each story.
Dumbledore's commentary talks about the history of these stories and tries to look at the relevance of these stories in the modern wizarding world. He also at times gives a tongue in cheek comment related with some of the earliest Pure Blood protaganists.
The one story which I felt should not have been in this book is the The Warlock's Hairy Heart. I am not sure what was the intent of having such a horrific story in a kid's book. The story is both horrific as well as boring, better fairy tales are written on love than these and could have been considered as gist instead of this tale.
From the completeness of the series perspective this is a good addition, but a lack of action and lack of too much depth leaves a hollow feeling through the book. Probably I am too old for children's fables :)
Summary All in all a good addition to the HP series, but a bit light after the hieghts of the HP series.
I would have given this book a 3 star rating, but giving credit for Albus' commentary, I would add one more star and make it a 4 star.