In that beautiful romantic land of hill and forest, of narrow gorges and rushing streams known as the Harz Mountains, are located a series of charming fairy tales which are collected together in this volume. Nearly all these stories have their homes on the slopes of one or other of the mountains or in the wooded valleys beside the roaring streams; and as valuable minerals are mined in some parts of this district we, therefore, find some of the stories refer to mines and miners. One of the mountain torrents is known by the name of the giant Bodo; and thousands of pilgrims yearly ascend the high cliff overlooking this valley, now called the "Rosztrappe" to see the impress of a horse's hoof in the rock, which tradition tells us was planted there by Brunhilda's snow-white steed when it carried her safely over the mighty chasm.