The Magic Horse (Teaching Stories) - Softcover

Shah, Idries

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1942698240 ISBN 13: 9781942698241

Publisher: Hoopoe Books, 2015

Synopsis

The Magic Horse is the story of two brothers, one skilled in all the practical arts, and the other, Prince Tambal, considered by most people to be only a dreamer. Their father, the King, announces a competition to produce "interesting and useful devices" – the entry produced by a woodcarver appears to be a simple wooden horse – apparently of little value. Prince Tambal discovers, however, that the horse is able to magically transport its rider to whatever place is in his mind. In this way, Prince Tambal comes to learn a great many things, and eventually, comes to know "his heart's desire." The Magic Horse is one of the hundreds of stories collected by Idries Shah from sources in the Middle East and Central Asia. In the Sufi tradition there is a continuum between the children’s story, the entertainment or folklore story, and the instructional or instrumental story. A story can help children deal with difficult situations and give them something to hold on to. It can, at the same time, stimulate a deeper understanding in adults. Through the instrumental function of this rich body of oral and written material, we and our children can now learn to develop the capacity to be more flexible and to understand many more things about ourselves and about life.

About this title

From the Publisher:

Beautifully illustrated in stunning color, this award-winning series of large-format children's books by Idries Shah presents tales from a rich tradition of storytelling.

In this Sufi tradition, there is a continuum between the children's story, the entertainment or folklore story, and the instruction or instrumental story. A story can help children deal with difficult situations and give them something to hold on to. It can, at the same time, be understood on other levels as they grow up and experience more.

For more than a thousand years all over the Middle East and Central Asia, children have been entertained and taught by these stories and have continued to tell them in adult life. Familiarity with these entertaining tales can help us all, both young and old, develop the capacity to be more flexible and to understand many more things about ourselves and about life.

Until his death in 1996, Shah collected hundreds of such stories and adapted them to contemporary Western culture. His adult books continue to attract millions of readers from all over the world.

From the Inside Flap:

THE MAGIC HORSE

This is a tale of two princes and their destinies. Prince Hoshyar gains rank and fortune by supervising the construction of huge metallic fishes that perform wondrous tasks and bring riches to the people of his land.

His brother, Prince Tambal, is interested only in a wooden horse that he obtains from a humble carpenter. But the horse is a magical one. It carries the rider, if he is sincere, to his heart's desire.

One day Prince Tambal disappears on the magic horse. His is away a long time and has many exciting adventures before he obtains his heart's desire and can return home.

This story is one of the hundreds of Sufi tales collected by Idries Shah from eastern oral and written literature. For over a thousand years it has entertained and taught people, both young and old, from all walks of life.

Beautiful illustrations by Julie Freeman capture the magic of this tale. The images and text are inset in rich borders of oriental patterns.

IDRIES SHAH published more than 30 titles for readers young and old. His collections of Sufi teaching tales and narratives have been acknowledged by reviewers, writers, poets, scientists and others not only for their beauty and entertainment value but for much, much, more.

THE TEACHING STORY The Magic Horse is oneofthe hundreds of stories collected by Idries Shah.

In the Sufi tradition, there is a continuum between the children's story, the entertainment or folklore story, and the instruction or instrumental story. A story can help children deal with difficult situations and give them something to hold on to. It can, at the same time, stimulate a deeper understanding in adults.

Through the instrumental function of this rich body or oral and written material, we and our children can now learn to develop the capacity to be more flexible and to understand many more things about ourselves and about life.

About this edition

• Publisher: Hoopoe Books
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1942698240
• ISBN 13: 9781942698241
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 38
• Illustrator: Freeman Julie