The Three Princes of Serendip The Three Princes of Serendip The Three Princes of Serendip is the English version of the story "Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo" published by Michele Tramezzino in Venice in 1557. Tramezzino claimed to have heard the story from one , who had translated the Persian fairy tale into Italian, adapting Book One of Amir Khusrau's "Hasht-Bihisht" of 1302. The story first came to English via a French translation, and now exists in several out-of-print translations. "Serendip" is the Old Persian name for Sri Lanka (Ceylon). The story has become known in the English-speaking world as the
Horace Walpole Robert Walpole. As Horace Walpole was childless, on his death his barony of Walpole descended to his cousin of the same surname, who was created the new Earl of Orford. Walpole was born in London, the youngest son of British Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole and his wife Catherine. Like his father, he received early education in Bexley; he was also educated at Eton College and King's College, Cambridge. Walpole's first friends were probably his cousins Francis and Henry Conway, to whom Walpole became strongly attached, especially Henry. At Eton he formed with Charles Lyttelton (later an antiquary and bishop)