Disenchantments: An Anthology of Modern Fairy Tale Poetry

by Wolfgang Mieder

Poems reexamine the stories of the Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Rumplestiltskin

Genres: Poetry, Fairy Tales, Retellings

221 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1985

Reviews

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gloriously spellbinding anthology collects roughly two-hundred pages of 20th-century poetry about fairy tales, preferring the twentieth, since writers started to adopt critically subversive ways of reinterpreting these beloved stories, from Anne Sexton to Randall Jarrell. But there are a million gems to appreciate here, many from authors whom history has otherwise forgot—and very unfairly. These include the brilliant Sarah Henderson Hay and the wryly elegant Helen Chasin. To put it squarely, this is the best anthology I’ve read in a long time, gorgeously put together, and with zero skips. Read this!

[Diane Zikowitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I'm giving it 3 stars based on the simple fact that I don't think my review is entirely fair. I don't know much about what makes poetry good or bad, I don't understand (or try) to understand half of it. I read this book because it was required to complete a book challenge I am a part of.

My response to the collection overall? I feel like I just ruined my childhood one twisted poem at a time. I felt like half of the authors were bitter, single or divorced, middle aged men and women. Don't even get me started on turning the seven dwarfs into little perverts...I think I'll stick with believing in Happy Ever After.

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolfgang Mieder is not only the best thesis adviser ever, he also put together a lovely collection of fairy tale poetry. I think it is better than the newer version (the Poets' Grimm) and a little more equal with the genders of the authors as well.

[Zanib · Rating 4 out of 5]

These poems have a rather interesting and peculiar take on classic fairy tales. Some appalled me completely; others just made me raise my eyebrow and delve further into the book.

Would recommend to anyone familiar with fairy tales.

[Sarah Sansolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection has some absolutely stunning poems (Sexton, Broumas, Hay, Dahl). There are a good number of poems that don't rise to this level. The Sleeping Beauty section is unnecessarily long. A more selective book would have more power.

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice collection overall, and it contains multiple poems inspired by the same fairy tale.