Before we invented writing, we invented stories. Folktales are the backbone of Indian storytelling, handed down from generation to generation through a timeless oral tradition. Stories never waited to be written down; they travelled quickly from person to person as they were verbally retold. Folktales are simple and old tales, but like all good stories, they have no expiry date. Presented here are 11 such enduring tales from the length and breadth of India. A scholar in Karnataka has to contend with a dhobi who is convinced the scholar can turn his donkey into a boy. Meanwhile, a picky eater in Bengal swallows Fate himself in a bid to rewrite his destiny. Further down south, a longing mother in Puducherry causes new moon nights thanks to her desire to have a child. And in a bizarre turn of events, a Santhal lady in North India finds herself married to a donkey! Wherever each story might take you, there is always a hidden nugget of wisdom to be found at the end, which is as relevant now as when it was first told. - from Amzon