Orsinian Tales facts for kids

Orsinian Tales is a collection of eleven short stories by an American writer named Ursula K. Le Guin. Most of these stories take place in a made-up country she created called Orsinia.

The stories in the book do not usually share characters or events. Instead, they all focus on personal feelings and experiences. Many of them are about love and relationships. Even though the stories are about people's lives, bigger events like wars and revolutions are often happening in the background. Le Guin's writing shows that people should be free to have their own thoughts and feelings. She believed these emotions should not be controlled by society, rules, or the government.

Exploring Orsinia: A Fictional Land

The stories are set in a fictional country called Orsinia. This country is imagined to be somewhere in Central Europe. The events in the stories happen over a long period, from the year 1150 to 1965. Orsinia was one of the very first places Le Guin invented when she was learning to write as a young adult.

The Name Orsinia

The name "Orsinia" and the author's first name, Ursula, both come from the Latin word ursus. This word means "bear." Ursula means "little female bear," and ursinus means "bear-like." Le Guin once said that since Orsinia was her own special country, it should have a name connected to hers.

Stories in the Collection

Here are the titles of the stories you will find in Orsinian Tales:

• "The Fountains"
• "The Barrow"
• "Ile Forest"
• "Conversations At Night"
• "The Road East"
• "Brothers and Sisters"
• "A Week in the Country"
• "An die Musik"
• "The House"
• "The Lady of Moge"
• "Imaginary Countries"