Carl Sandburg's "Rootabaga Stories": American fairy tales

Carl Sandburg's volumes of poetry, his comprehensive biography of Abraham Lincoln, and his collection of American folk songs established him as an author with a fascination and respect for American culture. The Rootabaga Stories are an unusual expression of his talent but have, for the most part, escaped critical notice. Growing up in the Midwest and traveling by himself for several years provided a background that enabled him to imbue the stories with an American spirit. The stories collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the literary tales of Hans Christian Andersen, and some American legends and folk tales combined to form the heritage Sandburg responded to in his creation of forty-nine stories. In fabricating the geography and culture of Rootabaga Country, Sandburg infused the stories with subtleties of language and attitude that are recognizably and exuberantly American.