Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia: Being the Adventures of Prince Prigio's Son

Andrew Lang’s Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia is a humorous fantasy novel in which Ricardo, the son of the remarkably clever King Prigio, grows through a series of adventures involving magic, monsters, and endangered princesses. Ricardo is brave and eager for action but also impulsive, preferring swords and enchanted objects to study or careful thought, and he proudly recalls rescuing a princess from a sea monster before setting out in search of further exploits. He confronts dragons, enormous birds, magicians, and other strange enemies while attempting to save captive princesses, yet repeatedly discovers that courage and physical strength cannot solve every danger without the wisdom and judgment of his father. Through magical objects, playful dialogue, comic reversals, and fairy-tale adventures, the story suggests that genuine heroism requires not only boldness but also patience, intelligence, responsibility, and concern for others.