Jan-Philipp Sendker has visited Myanmar (Burma) for over twenty years and, while doing research for his novels The Art of Hearing Heartbeats and A Well-Tempered Heart, he encountered numerous folktales and fables. These stories reveal the rich mythology and spirituality of the diverse peoples of Burma, and the profound social impact of Buddhist thought.

Reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, this collection illustrates how all cultures draw on a universal wisdom to create their myths.