Book is x + 339 pp. An anthology of 17 stories, mostly from the Middle Ages or from the literature of medievalism, but also including other items (such as a tale from the Iliad and an excerpt from J. M. Barrie's novel Peter and Wendy). The main contents are preceded by a short introduction by Willis and followed by a select bibliography.

Each story has a very brief editorial headnote. The note for "The Legend of Beowulf" wrongly identifies the English text that is presented as "Wilhelm Wägner's … prose translation of the Old English verse." MacDowall, the actual translator into English of Wägner's German prose paraphrase for children, is nowhere credited, as was also the case in Willis's out-of-copyright source (the Norrœna text from 1905; one of the 1907 editions of that book, exact edition unspecified, is cited as the source).

The story begins:

One evening while the warriors were feasting in King Hrodgar's hall, a minstrel was called upon to sing. He tuned his harp, and sang of the coming of Skiöld, the son whom Odin sent to live a human life among mortal men. He told how the babe had been seen lying on a shield floating on the waves of the sea, how he had been drawn ashore and carefully tended, and how he had become a mighty king and warrior in Jutland. He sang of Skiöld's glorious life, of the kingdom he had left to his children and grandchildren; and last of all he sang of Hrodgar, Skiöld's most famous grandson, who, like him, was the patron of all peaceful arts, the protector of all peaceful folk, and the punisher of evil-doers.

Many heroes were collected round the king that night at Hirschhalle,—so called from the gigantic antlers of a royal stag which, carved in stone, adorned the battlements. At length the time came for the warriors to separate for the night, and as there were too many of them to be accommodated elsewhere, beds were made up for them in the great hall. (136)

And ends:

On seeing what had chanced, they raised their voices in mourning; but Wichstan bade them hold their peace, or if they must weep, at least weep for their own cowardice, and not for the hero who had died at his post. He then advised them to make the best of their way to other lands, as he could not answer for their lives when the Goths became aware of the way in which they had deserted their king in his hour of need.

With bowed heads and shame-stricken faces the men turned away. They departed out of Gothland, and sought to hide their heads in countries where their names were unknown.

The body of Beowulf was borne to its funeral pile on the height called Hronesnäs, and there burnt amid the tears and sorrow of a nation. When the funeral rites had all been performed, the great treasure was taken back to the dragon's cave. For the Goths would have none of the gold their beloved king had won for them in his death. So it still lies hidden in the heart of the earth as in the olden time when the dragon guarded it from mortal ken. If it is useless to men, it is at all events not hurtful. (149)

BAM.