The two fairy tales of Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) featured in this volume are a small sample of the rich bounty left to us by the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize for her literary work. The unique Swedish author, with her poignant, atmospheric narratives, is present with her work and is available to her reading friends for delight and solace. The myth she served, imbued with humanitarian and theological significance, points to the forgotten quality of fairy tales to comfort, that is, to console readers.