Hieroglyphic Tales

By Horace Walpole

(3.5 stars) • 10 reviews

Enter a world of satire and fantasy where princesses debate philosophy and kingdoms clash over the existence of a single heir.

Genres

Literature Science-Fiction & Fantasy Fiction

Released

2004-11-20

Formats

mobi (images)

mobi

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Summary

"Hieroglyphic Tales" by Horace Walpole is a compilation of witty short stories from the 1780s that mixes fantasy and comedy with thoughtful observations, poking fun at the oddities of life and culture through imaginative stories. Inside, readers encounter a variety of characters and backdrops, often with a hint of playful imitation; for example, one narrative follows a princess, destined to marry a ginormous emperor, as she humorously spars in philosophical discussions about names and the meaning of history. Another story hilariously explores the chaos of royal succession problems in a kingdom divided by factions over the legitimacy of a princess who may not even be real. Other tales involve magical beings, laughable misfortunes, and ingenious surprises that defy social rules and expectations. Walpole’s writing provides both amusement and a means to analyze society with laughs and imagined scenarios to captivate the reader.