A Choice of Magic is a 1971 anthology of 32 fairy tales from around the world that have been collected and retold by Ruth Manning-Sanders. In fact, the book is mostly a collection of tales published in previous Manning-Sanders anthologies. Stories are pulled from A Book of Princes and Princesses (1969), A Book of Giants (1962), A Book of Dwarfs (1963), A Book of Dragons (1964), A Book of Ghosts and Goblins (1968), A Book of Witches (1965), A Book of Mermaids (1967), and A Book of Wizards (1966). There are also four previously unpublished stories.

It is followed by the anthology Folk and Fairy Tales (1978), another collection of (mostly) previously published Manning-Sanders tales.

Table of contents

• Foreword

• 1. The Wonderful Shirt (Russia)

• 2. The Frog (Ukraine)

• 3. Jack and the Beanstalk (England)

• 4. Knurremurre (Zeeland)

• 5. Bottle Hill (Ireland)

• 6. The Nine Doves (Greece)

• 7. The Goblins at the Bath House (Estonia)

• 8. Johnny and the Witch-Maidens (Bohemia)

• 9. Sven and Lilli (Denmark)

• 10. Aniello (Sicily)

• 11. Aladdin (Arabia)

• 12. Esben and the Witch (Denmark)

• 13. Sneezy Snatcher and Sammy Small (England)

• 14. Mons Tro (Denmark)

• 15. Rake Up! (Denmark)

• 16. King Johnny (Slavonia)

• 17. The Enchanted Prince (Hungary)

• 18. The Adventures of Billy MacDaniel (Ireland)

• 19. Little Hiram (India)

• 20. Prince Loaf (Rumania)

• 21. Hans and His Master (Hungary)

• 22. Golden Hair (Corsica)

• 23. Constantes and the Dragon (Greece)

• 24. Tatterhood (Norway)

• 25. The Princess's Slippers (Archangel)

• 26. Jack and the Wizard (Wales)

• 27. The Two Wizards (Africa)

• 28. The Three Mermaids (Italy)

• 29. The Girl Who Picked Strawberries (Germany)

• 30. The Magic Lake (Ireland)

• 31. Old Verlooka (Russia)

• 32. Stan Bolovan (Rumania)

References