The Tales from Silver Lands are set in South America during the turn of the century, although many of the stories appear to be timeless legends no doubt passed from generation to generation.

Many of the individual tales are set in a specific country or region, including Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Horn, Colombia, Guiana, Honduras, and Uruguay. Some stories are set in the forest, and others take place at the seashore or in the mountains. All demonstrate a close relationship to nature and portray a land in which magic and illusion are accepted aspects of life.