About this book
The Wagner Story Book: Firelight Tales of the Great Music Dramas by William Henry Frost kindles the wonder of myth and music with a child's-eye charm that makes Wagner's grand operas feel near and human.
Frost collects luminous short tales—The Stolen Treasure, The Knight of the Swan, The King of the Grail and more—that retell the stories behind Wagner’s music dramas in simple, lyrical prose. Rooted in Norse sagas, Arthurian legend and 19th-century operatic tradition, these firelight stories translate complex themes—heroism, love, fate, sacrifice—into vivid episodes suited for younger listeners while retaining the mythic sweep adults love. The book sits at the crossroads of fiction and music: it’s storytelling that explains the dramatic worlds Wagner drew from, offering historical context about the composer’s reliance on ancient tales without demanding prior musical knowledge.
Perfect for classical-music enthusiasts curious about the narratives behind the scores, parents seeking imaginative bedtime tales, or readers who enjoy mythic fiction, Frost’s retellings make the great music dramas approachable and enchanting. Listen to discover the human heart at the center of epic legend and to hear Wagner’s operatic universe told simply and beautifully.
