Asbjørnsen and Moe

Peter Christen Asbjørnsen (1812–85) and Jørgen Moe (1813–82) lived in Norway, and are famed for their collection of Norwegian folk-tales. They became friends at an early age, and were inspired by the work of the Grimm brothers. Some of their collected tales came from their own childhood memories, and others came from country people they met. Many of their tales have close similarities to tales from other countries, such as those of the Grimms and Andersen, but they also reflect characteristics of old Norse mythology.

Of all their tales, perhaps those best known today are The Three Billy Goats Gruff and East of the Sun and West of the Moon.

Works by Asbjørnsen and Moe

Currently available from Books for Learning is Asbjørnsen and Moe's famous story The Three Billy Goats Gruff, retold for children aged six and above.

Their other works include:

  • Best Wish, The
  • Big Bird Dan, The
  • Big Peter and Little Peter
  • Blue Belt, The
  • Boots and his Brothers
  • Boots and the Troll
  • Boots who Ate a Match with the Troll
  • Boots who Made the Princess Say, 'That's a Story'
  • Bruin and Reynard
  • Bushy Bride
  • Buttercup
  • Cat on the Dovrefell, The
  • Cock and Hen, The
  • Cock and Hen A-Nutting, The
  • Cock and Hen that Went to the Dovrefell, The
  • Cock, the Cuckoo, and the Black-Cock, The
  • Dapplegrim
  • Doll i' the Grass
  • East of the Sun and West of the Moon
  • Farmer Weathersky
  • Fox as Herdsman, The
  • Gertrude's Bird
  • Giant who had No Heart in his Body, The
  • Goosey Grizzel
  • Gudbrand on the Hill-Side
  • Hacon Grizzlebeard
  • How one went Out to Woo
  • Husband who was to Mind the House
  • Katie Woodencloak
  • Lad and the Deil, The
  • Lad who went to the North Wind, The
  • Lassie and her Godmother, The
  • Little Annie the Goose Girl
  • Lord Peter
  • Mastermaid, The
  • Master-Smith, The
  • Master Thief, The
  • Not a Pin to Choose Between Them
  • Old Dame and her Hen, The
  • One's Own Children are Always Prettiest
  • Pancake [cf. Gingerbread Man]
  • Princess on the Glass Hill
  • Rich Peter the Pedlar
  • Seven Foals, The
  • Shortshanks
  • Soria Moria Castle
  • Taming the Shrew
  • Tatterhood
  • Three Aunts, The
  • Three Billy Goats Gruff, The
  • Three Princesses of Whiteland, The
  • Thumbikin
  • Tom Totherhouse
  • True and Untrue
  • Twelve Wild Ducks, The
  • Two Step-Sisters, The
  • Well Done and Ill Paid
  • Why the Bear is Stumpy-Tailed
  • Why the Sea is Salt
  • Widow's Son, The