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A diverse new anthology that traces the meaning and magic of the sorcerers apprentice tale throughout history The Sorcerers Apprentice might conjure up images of Mickey Mouse from the Disney film Fantasia- or of Harry Potter. As this anthology reveals- however- sorcerers apprentice tales--in which a young person rebels against- or complies with- an authority who holds the keys to magical powers--have been told through the centuries- in many languages and cultures- from classical times to today. This unique and beautifully illustrated book brings together more than fifty sorcerers apprentice stories by a plethora of writers- including Ovid- Sir Walter Scott- and the Brothers Grimm. From Goethes The Pupil in Magic to A. K. Ramanujans The Guru and His Disciple- this expansive collection presents variations of a classic passed down through countries and eras. Readers enter worlds where household objects are brought to life and shape-shifting occurs from human to animal and back again.We meet two types of apprentice: The Humiliated Apprentice- a foolish bumbler who wields magic ineffectively and promotes obedience to authority; and The Rebellious Apprentice who- through ambition and transformative skills- promotes empowerment and self-awareness. In an extensive introduction- esteemed fairy-tale scholar Jack Zipes discusses the significance and meaning of the apprentice stories- the contradictions in popular retellings- and the importance of magic as a tool of resistance against figures who abuse their authority. Twenty specially commissioned black-and-white ...