Most of the characters in this collection fall into two groups, fools and heroes. Among the fools is Atzel, the young man in "Fool's Paradise." Because he is too lazy to do the real work of living and is enamored of paradise, where he thinks he belongs, he tries to make people believe that he is dead.

Some of the fools, like the bridegroom, Lemel, in "The Mixed-Up Feet and the Silly Bridegroom," seem unable to learn anything from their experiences and will go through life as the simple-minded but harmless people they are. Others, like Atzel, can profit from an object lesson, such as Dr. Yoetz teaches him. In both cases, the characters' foolishness shows readers how to use common sense and avoid self-indulgence.

While many of the predicaments the fools find themselves in are humorous, they are not pointless. Even those who are not...