Hieroglyphic tales, 1766-1771

Manuscript, in Walpole's hand, of drafts, with numerous emendations, of five lighthearted and occasionally satirical fairy tales. The first tale, titled A new Arabian night's entertainment, is a parody of the relationship between Scheherezade and Shahryar in the frame tale of The Arabian Nights. The second tale, titled The king and his three daughters, concerns the political and dynastic problems of a kingdom in which the king's eldest daughter does not exist. The third tale, titled The Dice-box and annotated, "translated from the French translation of the Countess of Daunois for the entertainment of Miss Caroline Campbell," is a fantastic tale of a nine-year-old girl named Pissimissi, the elephant and ladybird which draw her car, and her encounter with King Solomon. The fourth tale, titled The peach in brandy: a milesian tale, addresses the dynastic problems of a country with Irish connotations. The fifth and final tale, titled The bird's nest, describes the fantastic dream of Guzalme, Queen of Serendip