A selection of twenty two Albanian folktales translated by Robert Elsie are free to read from his website. Most of the tales are translated as they appeared in Albanian language in Folklor shqiptar 1, Proza popullore (Tirana 1963). Together with about ten legends and an introduction by the translator they have been published in a book format first by Naim Frashëri Publishing Company, Tirana (Albania) in 1994; and than again by Dukagjini Publishing Company, Peja (Kosova) in 2001.The stories in the collection are not necessarily written for children, but as in other folktales and adaptations children would find much pleasure in the fantastic world of the tales. As the translator and editor of the book states in his introduction: "The fundamental theme of Albanian folk tales, as no doubt of folk tales everywhere, is the struggle between good and evil, a reflection of social values as we perceive them. The cautious reader may rest assured ... that in the fantastic world of Albanian folk literature the good always win out."
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