Jack and the Beanstalk is the second fairy tale in the book published by J M Dent & Co (Cinderella is the first) in 1894.
Just like other books in The Banbury Cross series, it was adapted by Grace Rhys and engraved by Robert Anning Bell.
Once there was a poor widow who had only one son. He was called Jack and he was a spoiled and irresponsible boy who never worked. He and his mother survived only thanks to selling stuff in their possession and this was disappearing very fast. Finally, the cow remained their only valuable asset. Mother decided to sell it and Jack took the cow to the city
On his way, he met a butcher who had some colorful beans with him. The butcher asked about the cow and noticing how curious was Jack about the beans, he offered a trade. Jack instantly accepted his offer. Not only he would not have to go to the city, but he would get a bag of beautiful beans as well.
His mother was very disappointed, of course. She was angry and threw the beans in the garden. The day was officially a disaster.
His mother was very disappointed, of course. She was angry and threw the beans in the garden. The day was officially a disaster.
In the morning Jack woke up early. He saw that the beans, thrown in the garden took root. Several very tall and thick beanstalks grew out forming some kind of ladder reaching up to the clouds. Jack immediately decided he should climb up and explore what was there.
Well, there was not much to see at the top of the beanstalk. He found safe ground but it looked more like a desert. Jack was hungry and wanted to explore the surroundings to maybe find some food. There he met a strange woman with a white cane with a golden peacock on the top.
Well, there was not much to see at the top of the beanstalk. He found safe ground but it looked more like a desert. Jack was hungry and wanted to explore the surroundings to maybe find some food. There he met a strange woman with a white cane with a golden peacock on the top.
She was a fairy and she knew him. The fairy told Jack that she was the one who arranged the strange exchange of the cow for the small bag of beans. She made them magical so Jack would climb up here. This place is very special for him. Here is the home of a man-eating giant. This giant killed his father many years ago when Jack was just a baby.
Jack's father was a good man with huge wealth. Giant hated him and his willingness to help poor people. So he arranged a stakeout where Jack's father was killed and Jack's mom imprisoned with her baby boy who was only a few months old then.
Jack's father was a good man with huge wealth. Giant hated him and his willingness to help poor people. So he arranged a stakeout where Jack's father was killed and Jack's mom imprisoned with her baby boy who was only a few months old then.
The giant later freed Jack's mom but she had to swear that she'll never tell the truth about her husband and giant. So Jack never heard who was his father and why is he so poor. Now is the time to seek for some justice. His right and obligation is to find the giant and take his fortune from him. Everything in the giant's possession should belong to Jack and his mother.
He continued his way until he got to the giant's house. There was a woman who told him she was the giant's wife.
He continued his way until he got to the giant's house. There was a woman who told him she was the giant's wife.
She was nice and promised him some food. When she took him in the house Jack noticed several people locked behind the bars, waiting to become giant's meal.
The woman was still nice and offered Jack a decent meal. Right when he finished it a giant came home.
The woman was still nice and offered Jack a decent meal. Right when he finished it a giant came home.
He was suspicious because he smelled fresh meat. But his wife hid Jack in an oven and told him he was wrong. Then he ate. He ate a lot.
After his lunch, he put a hen on the table and told her to lay an egg. She laid a golden egg. The giant repeated his order several times before he fell asleep. Jack observed him through the crevice. He knew he must take the hen with him.
That's exactly what he did.
Giant didn't wake up. Jack returned home and he lived with his mother happily for several months. After some time, he felt he needed to return.
He disguised himself so the giant's wife didn't recognize him and hid again when the giant returned home. He stole several bags of gold and the giant didn't wake up again.
But his dog did.
He disguised himself so the giant's wife didn't recognize him and hid again when the giant returned home. He stole several bags of gold and the giant didn't wake up again.
But his dog did.
When Jack returned he found his mother ill. He stayed with her until she felt better. They moved to a better place and had enough money to live without worries.
Yet he wanted to visit the giants's house once more.
So he disguised himself again and tricked the giant's wife again.
This time he had to hide in a large pot.
The giant smelled fresh meat and searched for possible intruders. Jack was lucky that the giant stopped right at the pot where he hid.
So he disguised himself again and tricked the giant's wife again.
This time he had to hide in a large pot.
The giant smelled fresh meat and searched for possible intruders. Jack was lucky that the giant stopped right at the pot where he hid.
After that, the giant entertained himself by listening to the magical harp.
Jack decided he needed to take it with him.
Jack decided he needed to take it with him.
When the giant fell asleep he grabbed the harp and ran away. The harp started yelling and the giant woke up.
The giant followed the boy with the harp.
Jack was a bit faster. He reached the beanstalk and climbed down. He was on the safe ground when the giant was still high above. Jack took a hatchet and started cutting.
The beanstalk broke and the giant fell to the ground. He was dead.
Jack and his mother were rich again and his father was avenged.
Jack and his mother were rich again and his father was avenged.
The book was printed by Turnbull and Spears, Edinburgh.