Long ago expelled from the ranks of the nobility on account of his worthless behaviour, the knight had cultivated a connexion with some discontented idle burghers of the city, and these he hoped to make the ministers of his vengeance.-from "The Massacre at Prague"These strange tales of Jewish folklore make the Brothers Grimm look cheery, with their emphases on murder, bigotry, revenge, and other sordid human impulses:. "The Bird That Sang to a Bridegroom" features an appearance by the Angel of Death.. "The Pound of Flesh" tells the legend that provided Shakespeare his source material for his grim play The Merchant of Venice.. "The Ape and the Gold Pieces" features the decaying carcass of the titular primate.. "The Prisoner of the Inquisition" is a "monstrous" tale of unjust imprisonment.A tad intense, perhaps, for the children it was obviously intended for, it is nevertheless a darkly delicious read for grownups.Also available from Cosimo Classics: Field's The Alchemy of Happiness and Shadows Cast Before.CLAUD FIELD is also author of Mystics and Saints of Islam, Heroes of Missionary Enterprise, and Persian Literature.