Folk and Fairy Tales

by Martin Hallett, Barbara Karasek (Editor)

An updated edition of Broadview's top-selling anthology with more critical material and illustrations.

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Classics, School, Fiction, Read For School, Anthologies

504 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2002

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin Hallett and Barbara Karasek's Folk & Fairy Tales: An Introductory Anthology (with my copy being the 2009 and thus fourth edition), while perhaps labeled as being an introductory anthology is actually and in fact so so much more than this (and really and even fortunately not all that introductory in scope either) and therefore truly presents what I would personally (and academically) consider a perfect marriage of presented tales and relevant essential critical analyses (supplemental details and necessary information necessary or at least appreciated for added comprehension of both the presented stories themselves and folk and fairytales as a literary genre).

Aside from the much appreciated fact that in Folk & Fairy Tales: An Introductory Anthology the presented folk and fairy tales have been divided into large thematic sections (which both encourages and helps with comparative readings and research), the informative preface and introduction, the chapter on illustrations and the section featuring eight examples of the some of the most important and relevant folklore and fairytale criticism to date (with examples from such internationally renowned authors like Max Lüthi, Bruno Bettelheim and Alan Dundes) are absolutely an added bonus (and with the selected but detailed bibliography and the source materials for both the included fairy and folktales and also the illustration samples being the proverbial icing on an already wonderful in every way cake). And while the latter, while the bibliographies are not and also do not claim to be exhaustive and extensive, they do feature a brilliant and more than perfectly adequate starting point for further reading and research purposes. Most highly recommended, and the only reason I have decided on four stars instead of five stars for Folk and Fairy Tales: An Introductory Anthology is that I personally do not tend to think that the Grimms' tale of the fisherman and his wife should be featured in the thematic section labelled Villains (as while the two main protagonists, as while the fisherman and especially his wife are indeed more than a bit greedy and presumptuous, they are NOT so much villainous as they are silly and always desiring more wealth and thus do not really fit in a section that includes the in all ways horrid and evil Bluebeard and the definitely massively nasty and uncanny Rumpelstilzchen).

[Salma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read fairy tales in so long- this book has three versions of each classic- plus some poetry thrown in. Feel like I'm replenishing a magic dried-up well.

UPDATE:

I like to think of reading books as the mental equivalent of enjoying a gourmet meal. Most are 'devoured' at one sitting. This fairy tale collection, however, is more like rare, imported dark chocolate: more enjoyable piece by piece, spread out over days, even weeks.

I found this in the children's section of The Strand, but I highly doubt that any parent would let young children read some of the earlier versions of such classics as "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Sleeping Beauty." The former includes a variant involving cannibalism and Hood ending up as dinner for Wolf. The latter has a variant called, "Sun, Moon, and Talia," involving rape, phrases like 'cursed bitch' and, yes, cannibalism. It's interesting to see how these versions were toned down over the years, reflecting stories closer to Disney movies. The stories are accompanied by the authors' critical thoughts on symbolism.

But that's not all. The authors have included a "Nineteenth-Century" section consisting mostly of Hans Christian Andersen tales like "The Little Mermaid" to illustrate "the evolution of folk-tale to literary tale." Andersen's work is indeed literary- I adored him as a child (the Christian morality stuff kind of went over my head back then), and although I found myself rolling my eyes at the whole religious and moral virtue stuff (MUCH more explicit in his tales than in earlier folk-tales), his prose brought me to tears with lines as beautiful as my favorite music, like "Its long soft branches bent toward the sand; it looked as if the top of the tree and its roots wanted to kiss each other."

Then there's a "Twentieth-Century" section, containing mostly of poetry and 'literary' versions of the tales, written for adults. Authors include Angela Carter (a new take on Red Riding Hood), Tanith Lee (Cinderella like you've never seen her), and Anne Sexton.

Lastly, the end of the book is filled with beautiful illustrations, and some critical essays thrown in. It's like having a fairy-tale museum in your hand. Sweet dreams.

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories I read for class:
*The Story of Grandmother by Paul Delarue: This is the most wild Little Red Riding Hood story I have read. I'm scarred.
*Little Red Riding Hood by Charles Perrault: He had a lot to say about falling into temptation in this one. I think this was one of my favorites in the original Little Red Riding Hood section.
*Little Red Cap by Grimm Brothers: This is the one everyone is most familiar with and it's a fun one, but it's a little too convenient that a hunter who happens to be an enemy of the wolves is close by, but that's fairy tales for you.
*Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China by Ed Young: I love this one. The girls are so smart and I love how they work together. It's so good.
*Cinderella: or the Little Glass Slipper by Charles Perrault: Perrault's morals at the end are the pettiest thing in the existence of fairy tales and they have the tendency to contradict themselves. This one is famous, but honestly, it's pretty normal to me. Nothing about it really stands out as a favorite version of Cinderella for me.
*Ashputtle by Brothers Grimm: I loved this version. It's my personal favorite of the stories and it's brutal enough for the revenge to be satisfying if you are looking for a revenge plot in a Cinderella tale.
*Cap O'Rushes by Joseph Jacobs: I wasn't particularly for this one, but I didn't dislike it. It was pretty meh for me. Probably my least favorite of the three main Cinderella tales.
*Little Gold Star by Joe Hayes: This one was the most imaginative of the Cinderella tales. I really enjoyed the cultural aspects of this story and it was a beautiful story.
*The Indian Cinderella by Cyrus Macmillan: I loved this one a lot. The story and the plot were so fascinating to me. The step-sister being the cause of the girl's deformity was incredibly fascinating and heartbreaking. It's a short one, but it packs a sweet punch in the gut. I think this would be one that the retelling genre would love.
*Sun, Moon, and Talia (Sole, Lune,e Talia) by Giambattista Basile: Brutal. It's a lot. It's mean in its treatment of women and the moral is horrible. It's like a bad TV show that you can't stop watching. I couldn't look away because I was so shocked.
*The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood by Charles Perrault: I liked this. Perrault tries to make up for the rape plot, but the ogre plot was wild. I had fun!
*Brier Rose by Brothers Grimm: I wasn't a fan of this one. It's just kind of meh to me.
*Hansel & Gretel by Brothers Grimm: I love this story. It's one of my favorites. I love it so much. It's a forever favorite growing up and I continue to love it.
*Snow White by Brothers Grimm: It's a simple story, but I am always shocked by how stupid characters are in fairy tales. How is the princes just requesting to take the coffin she is in? How did she fall for the same trick three times? It's dumb.
*Rapunzel by Brothers Grimm: This was fun. The parents are horrible because they trade their kid for some cabbage. It's shocking where this story goes because Tangled is tame compared to this, but I enjoyed it.
*Jack and the Beanstalk by Joseph Jacobs: This is fun. I love how he keeps tricking the ogre and comes out in a better position. It's an amoral story, but that's what makes it fun.
*The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen: This one is sad and really packs an emotional punch. It's deeper than the little picture books I remember, but I really did feel like my emotions were hit because this duck just went through so much abuse.
*Beauty and the Beast by Madame Leprince de Beaumont: I'm trash for Beauty & the Beast stories. The original is good and I just love the story. It's got so many issues in regards to romance and healthy relationships, but I'm not looking for a healthy romance when she is falling in love with a giant beast.
*East of the Sun and West of the Moon by Asbjornen and Moe: I wanted to love this one, but I walked away liking it. It's not an amazing story, but it has some great moments that make for a good story.
*The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen: This is the story that I was here for. Like dang. It's depressing, but then keeps going and gives some hope. It ends with pain, but there could be more.
*The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen: This one was funny. I liked the ending. Nothing amazing, but definitely entertaining.
*Flossie and the Fox by Patricia C. McKissack: I lived for this heroine. She was so smart and she played dumb so well. I loved how she kept making the fox confused and frustrated. I couldn't stop laughing.
*Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault: I never read this book before or knew the original story, so it was interesting to read. It was a fun trickster story, but not a favorite.
*Molly Whuppie by Joseph Jacobs: I love the fairy tale hero aspect of this one being turned on it's head. It's a fun story and progresses very well.
*The Company of Wolves by Angela Carter: This was my favorite thing I read in the entirety of my fairy tales class. I am a huge fan of the story, the plot, and the themes Carter tackles.
*Wolf by Francesca Lia Block: I read this one before and it was interesting to reread this one as an adult. I like the modern take on Red Riding Hood. It's got a good plot twist, too.
*When the Clock Strikes by Tanith Lee: This is the darkest story in the collection. It's goes from 10 to 110 real quick. I was shocked. It was dark and pretty uncomfortable, but it was an interesting time.
*The Wicked Stepmother's Lament by Sara Maitland: I was bored by this one. I thought I was going to love this one, but it was unfulfilling to my expectations.

Overall, this collection has a strong wide and variety. I wish I would've been able to read the entire collection, but I don't have the time and I rented the textbook instead of purchasing it.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection of fairy tales penned by authors such as Andersen, Wilde, Perrault, and the Grimm brothers. All in all, I found the stories delightful. It was fascinating to see how they've evolved over time, from dark to innocent and now moving back towards the former. My personal favorites are always the stories that demonstrate the triumph of innocence over corruption. (Snow White, The Emperor's New Clothes).

Like dreams, fairy tales should create a symbolic mirror that helps us to resolve problems in our everyday lives. Innocence without the threat of corruption is trite. Rampant corruption is salacious. You need the balance to create something meaningful.

You're probably wondering why I gave such a low rating to a book that I enjoyed. It's because I hated the commentary. It was simplistic, Freudian, biased, and increasingly asinine. It ruined the stories for me!

Specifically, I hated the commentary on Hans Christian Andersen. He was compared unfavorably to Oscar Wilde. Yes, Wilde wrote beautiful, beautiful prose. And, yes, Andersen was a wounded, bitter man. And, yes, he does express some resentment towards snobby princesses. That doesn't make him anti-woman any more The Picture of Dorian Gray is anti-man. I happen to like Andersen's pretty ballerinas and shy mermaids, coveted from afar. I relate to his wistful longing. Wilde was more worldly, more cynical. But cynicism isn't objectivity. I'd say that both ideologies are highly subjective. And then I'd say that I like both -- but that Andersen's subjective truth resonates a bit more with me.

And what's with these (usually male) feminists who only ever defend fiery dominatrix types? (I'm referring to the editor). What about the timid, sensitive girls who do, in fact, exist? Feminism isn't about all women being the same. It's about women having equal rights. Hmph.

(Oh, and you can thank Andersen for the two stars I did give you!)(So there).

[Rachel A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent overview of fairy tales and folk tales across a variety of cultures. I especially enjoy how it presents versions of familiar tales from several different countries, making it easy to compare and see how the story evolves depending on who is telling it. There is also a section at the end devoted to literary criticism, as well as introductory sections to each chapter. The fairy tales are grouped by theme, rather than by author, making it really easy to see the similarities between the different versions. I originally read this book as a textbook for a college course, but it is something I would still pick up now and then to re-read or try some of the stories that we never covered.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for fairy tales and this book didn't disappoint.

[Kelly Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good collection. Interesting essays. For my children's literature class

[Emily Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the fairy tales are pretty messed up. A fun light read and a nice collection of retellings.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this collection as part of a course for school. While I was determined to read every fairytale, I did not read all the critical essays which comprise a significant portion of this novel. I can't say I'm the best person to review it as a collection because even though I love reading fairy tales, I generally look them up individually or as the collected works of an author. But hey I'll do my best.

Selection and Organization of Tales
I think the tales were organized fairly well. The first few sections comprise multiple versions of a singular tale: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Red Riding Hood. It was really interesting to see how these tales differed in various time periods and countries. I'm glad there were some international tales even if this collection is mostly Euro-centric. It was fascinating to see how these international tales often had the most proactive protagonists. While European tales wanted to reinforce passivity and docility in women, many international tales featured clever young girls who solved their own problems, such as the Chinese Red Riding Hood Lon Po Po and the Negro tale (their word) of Red Riding Hood Flossie and the Fox.

Of course, did get a bit confusing when they started including certain versions of these tales in other sections ie Flossie and the Fox was actually placed in the section entitled Trickster. I think it might have been better to just keep these together. Easily my favourite section was The Nature of Love in which nearly every tale was a favourite. The final section is called New Wine in Old Bottles and I'm really glad they included it because it provided the readers the chance to see original contemporary takes on these tales.

Charles Perrault is a Hack
Now many people are probably familiar with the Grimms Brothers, but equally influential was their predecessor Charles Perrault, another compiler of fairy tales though this time in France. And I'm going to say it now, Charles Perrault is a hack. If you ever feel your literary analysis is not good enough, just know you are still better than Perrault by default of having a brain. Like other fairy tale compilers, Perrault gathered and edited common folk tales to fit the zeitgeist of the time. As I mentioned in the last section, often these European writers accentuated the passivity of the female protagonists in order to promote their ideal of womanhood. But that's not what I'm going to talk about now. Unlike other writers, the word subtlety was not known to Perrault so he decided to include a moral at the end of each of his tales. And boy oh boy are they something.

I want you to take a moment and imagine the moral for Cinderella. Perhaps kindness will always be rewarded. Now brace yourself for Perrault's genius interpretation:

It is certainly a great advantage to be intelligent, brave, well-born, sensible and have other similar talents given only by heaven. But however great may be your god-given store, they will never help you to get on in the world unless you have either a godfather or a godmother to put them to work for you.

......................................................................... You know I think I'm going to start writing all my book reviews this way. The main theme of Pride and Prejudice is actually: no matter how much self-reflection you undertake, you will never achieve romantic bliss if you don't visit your suitor's home so as to unexpectedly encounter him and kickstart your courtship. Thank Perrault, my reviews are going to be fire!

Just as a treat, here is the moral for Sleeping Beauty:

A brave, rich, handsome husband is a prize well worth waiting for; but no modern woman would think it was worth waiting for a hundred years. The tale of the Sleeping Beauty shows how long engagements make for happy marriages, but young girls these days want so much to be married I do not have the heart to press the moral.

I don't have anything to add.

Stepmothers and Female Villains
Now I'm hardly going to hailed as a ground-breaking analyst for saying that these fairytales are sexist. We all know that already, but I wanted to ruminate on female villains nonetheless. These fairytales were written in a strong patriarchal system when men were seen as the strongest, the smartest, the heads of the household, however it always ends up being the woman at fault. The vast majority of fables feature female villains - often step-mothers - even when the father is present in the story. Many stories such as Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel include the protagonists' father, yet somehow all the blame falls on the woman and it is only the woman who takes an active role. Nothing is ever said of the husbands who stood by and allowed the abuse, even though in this era they were expected to have control of their wives. The hypocrisy of the patriarchy never ceases to amaze me. Many of the original folk tales had the actual mother as the villain, but many writers such as the Grimms brothers changed it to a step-mother to make it more palatable. It's also not a coincidence that many of these female villains are proactive, dominant characters to contrast with the protagonists who represent 'good' passive femininity. This type of vilification has long-lasting echoes in modern media, such as the trope of the 'bad' career woman.

My Favourite Tales
I want to take a moment to gush over my favourite tales! Beauty and the Beast (Madame Leprince de Beaumont 1756) is a beautifully written tale with a surprisingly dynamic protagonist. Beauty sticks to her principles and makes decisions that she feels are best for her well-being. Han Christian Andersen is easily the most talented writer of the bunch who had a beautiful mysticism to his tales. The Little Mermaid (1843) was dark and evocative while slightly undercut by its overt religious messaging at the end. I love The Juniper Tree by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm simply because it is the most messed-up tale I've ever read. It is hilariously gruesome that I can't help but laugh every time I read it. The Fourth Pig by Naomi Mitchison (1936) is an incredible ambiguous tale filled with hypnotic, atmospheric prose. I ended up liking the twisted reimagining of Snow White - Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman (1998) - so much that I purchased the graphic novel which has some of the most beautiful illustrations I've ever seen, review here.

Shoutout to the Worst Tale
Easily my least favourite tale in the bunch was The Three Little Pigs by James Finn Garner (1994). This could have been written by any modern right-wing pundit/speaker (ie Ben Shapiro, Jordan Peterson) and you would not know the difference. Any thought-leader that claims they are the final frontier, standing up against the Left who have gone too far, is really nothing new. People pushing back against progressive ideals has existed forever. People will always claim that these progressives are making a big deal out of nothing. I can give you examples of people complaining about political correctness in the 90s (you know, the decade of peak gender and racial equality) and even un the 50s though they don't use that phrase. Right-wing mockery is just a rehash of old political tactics and not revolutionary like they claim. Instead of actually engaging with the issues people bring up, they prefer to mock them instead. Pathetic.

My Hot Takes
Alright so here are my rapid-fire opinions on all the tales. This is mostly for my own record, but feel free to peruse if you're interested. I note the dates and authors as recorded in the book, but like all fairytales these 'authors' didn't create these tales but rather recorded oral traditions. There are some examples of mostly original work such as Hans Christian Andersen, and the last section all includes original tales.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
The Story of Grandmother – Paul Delarue 1885: Much more violent and crude than I expected. It's a simplistic tale told mostly in dialogue.
The False Grandmother – Italo Calvino 1980: Still simplistic. Didn't leave much of an impression
Little Red Riding Hood – Charles Perrault 1697 First Red Riding Hood tale that felt more like a story.
Little Red Cap – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 Also more eloquent and more sanitized. Grimm added a second ending where the girl gets to trick the wolf which is interesting.
Lon Po Po: A Red Riding-Hood Story from China – Ed Young 1989 Interesting version of the tale that lets the girls have the most agency as they trick the wolf.

CINDERELLA
Cinderella: or The Little Glass Slipper – Charles Perrault 1697 Most recognizable version of the tale with all the magical devices. His morals are stupid af.
Ashputtle – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 More gruesome which is interesting since Grimm often sanitizes the tales. No magic.
Cap o’ Rushes – Joseph Jacobs 1890 I quite enjoyed this version since the protagonist is self-reliant and makes the prince prove he is worthy of her.
Vasilisa the Beautiful – Aleksandr Afanas’ev 1855 Another interesting tale that is only loosely a Cinderella tale. More of a dark adventure.
Little Gold Star – Joe Hayes 2002 Don't really remember this one.
The Little Red Fish and the Clog of Gold – Inea Bushnaq 1986 Middle Eastern version.
The Indian Cinderella – Cyrus Macmillan 1918 Native American version.

SLEEPING BEAUTY
Sun, Moon, and Talia (Sole, Lune, e Talia) – Giambattista Basile 1634-36 Very uncomfortable and brutal version. Lots of references to Greek mythology.
The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood – Charles Perrault 1697 Parts of this story are the most recognizable, but others veer off into crazy town. Perrault clearly trying to combine too many versions. Ie fairy arrives in a fiery chariot drawn by dragons. Prince's mother is suddenly revealed to be an ogre and the second half becomes very odd.
Brier Rose – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 Most simple and straightforward version.

GROWING UP IS HARD TO DO
Hansel and Gretel – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 Blame again falls entirely on the stepmother.
Snow White – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 Quite similar to the tale we know except Snow White is very stupid and is tricked by the witch multiple times.
Rapunzel – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 Again not much to work with except Rapunzel stupidly tells Gothel everything. I just realized that in the movie Tangled, having Rapunzel's tear heal Eugene is actually a really clever way to adapt how in the Grimms' tale her tears heal the prince's blindness.
The Frog King, or Iron Heinrich – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 Weird disjointed tale.
Jack and the Beanstalk – Joseph Jacobs 1890 About what you'd expect.
The Ugly Duckling – Hans Christian Andersen 1843 Still good writing but very depressing.

THE NATURE OF LOVE
Beauty and the Beast – Madame Leprince de Beaumont 1756 One of my favourites. Well written and Beauty is an interesting person.
East of the Sun and West of the Moon – Asbjornsen and Moe 1852 Quite an interesting version. I never realized that Echo North was based on this specific tale and it honestly makes me like it less because the only credit I gave it was due to its supposed originality.
The Little Mermaid – Hans Christian Andersen 1843 I adored the mysticism in his storytelling. An intriguing world. I thought the overt religious overtones detracted from the story.
The Woman of the Sea – Helen Waddell 1972 Only tale in this section that I didn't like as much. Quite simple but also the unhealthiest of all the relationships.

BRAIN OVER BRAWN (THE TRICKSTER)
The Brave Little Tailor – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 Unlikeable protagonist.
The Emperor’s New Clothes – Hans Christian Andersen 1837 Still remains a timely and relevant tale.
Clever Gretel - Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 Another random tale without a moral. Protagonist tricks her master, but Gretel isn't that great a person either.
Flossie and the Fox – Patricia C. McKissack 1986 A version of Red Riding Hood I quite enjoyed because the protagonist is clever.
Puss in Boots – Charles Perrault 1697 Classic trickster tale. Nice enough.
The Story of the Three Little Pigs – Joseph Jacobs 1890 Pretty much the story you know.
The Death of Brer Wolf – Julius Lester 1987 Jesus Christ this takes a dark turn.
From Tiger to Anansi – Philip M. Sherlock 1954 Interesting.

VILLAINS
The Juniper Tree – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 It’s so messed up it’s kind of amazing. Honestly probably one of my favourites.
Bluebeard – Charles Perrault 1697 Genuinely chilling. Well written.
Rumpelstiltskin – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 Rumpelstiltskin is such a drama queen. What an ending.

THE “CAULDRON OF STORY”
The Neapolitan Soldier – Italo Calvino 1980 Weird mix of Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty/Giants. Felt disjointed since most things happened in one night. I like how it was the princess who searched for whomever took her shoe.
Molly Whuppie – Joseph Jacobs 1890 Mix of Hansel and Gretel/Jack and the Beanstalk/Cinderella. Disjointed and very disturbing.
The Young Slave – Giambattista Basile 1634-36 Blend of Sleeping Beauty/Snow White/Cinderella. I didn't like this one; it was really cruel and demeaning to women. Also really random.
The Robber Bridegroom – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm 1812/15 A bit of Hansel and Gretel and maybe Bluebeard. Not as disjointed as the other stories but still quite dark.
The Pig King – Giovanni Francesco Straparola 1550 Sort of like a reversed Beauty and the Beast. I didn't like it; the Pig Prince was horrible and at the end they act like he's gallant.
The Frog Maiden – Maung Htin Aung 1948 Mix of Cinderella and the Frog Prince. Not bad.

NEW WINE IN OLD BOTTLES
Little Red Riding Hood – David McPhail 1995 A nice child friendly version. It lets Red be clever.
The Company of Wolves – Angela Carter 1979 It's ok. The concept is interesting but I wasn't a fan of her writing style.
Wolf – Francesca Lia Block 2000 The deeply disturbing subject matter makes it hard to enjoy.
The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood – Anne Thackeray Ritchie 1905 An impressive retelling and good social commentary considering when it was written. A sad and melancholy tale.
When the Clock Strikes – Tanith Lee 1983 A dark satanic twist on Cinderella. I quite enjoyed it.
The Wicked Stepmother’s Lament – Sara Maitland 1987 Interesting way to re-contextualize Cinderella.
Snow White – The Merseyside Fairy Story Collective 1976 Ok story. It felt like a fairy tale.
Snow, Glass, Apples – Neil Gaiman 1998 So dark and twisted, I love it.
The Tale of the Rose – Emma Donoghue 1997 Impressive with a cool twist.
The Fourth Pig – Naomi Mitchison 1936 Incredibly impressive, hypnotic and ambiguous.
The Three Little Pigs – James Finn Garner 1994 Very annoying; sounds like a right-wing pundit.
Little Man – Michael Cunningham 2015 Another rather sad tale but good at how it managed to rewrite Rumpelstiltskin.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Review of 4th edition)

This book was assigned in my undergrad children's lit class about 10 years ago and I have been meaning to read it cover to cover since then as it was one of the most interesting "textbooks" (if you can call it that) I was ever assigned. This year I finally got around to it and I feel pretty accomplished as it was QUITE long and dense, and the print is tiny.

The first section of the book takes a few of the most classic tales including Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast, and for each presents several retellings: two more "classic" retellings with slight variations, a modern retelling, and a poem. I really enjoyed this section. Some of the classic tales were surprisingly enjoyable. I especially liked the Brother's Grimm Sleeping Beauty, a straightforward take on the tale with lovely details about the kingdom and town around Sleeping Beauty waking up with her, and Marie-Catherine D'Aulnoy's version of Beauty and the Beast which was surprisingly nuanced and touching. Some of the modern retellings were even better and it was fun to see edgier, more adult takes.

After that there are sections comparing certain types of tales, and a section where two versions of a tale are juxtaposed against each other. There were some more interesting fairy tales included there but I felt the format was not as strong as in the first section.

There are a few illustrations and the authors' interpretations of them. I was glad these full color illustrations were included as they are such an important part of written fairy tales. I would read a whole book discussing them because it's a really interesting intersection of art and literature. Although there is commentary by the authors throughout the book, I felt this was the strongest of their commentary.

Finally there is a criticism section with essays by various thinkers in the field. For me this was a mixed bag and where the book showed its age. Despite being published in 2009 it felt dated, partially because most of the essays were older. There is some weight given to feminist critique and retellings of fairy tales but there is no discussion of fairy tales in the context of sexuality, gender (other than feminism). In 2022 it seems shocking to me that tales with really obvious gay themes, including Oscar Wilde's "The Happy Prince" and Frank Stockton's "The Gryphon and the Minor Canon," were not discussed in that context at all. It was a sad omission because fairy tales, with their preference for unconventional romances and magical transformations, seem like fertile ground for queer and trans interpretations.

There is also a nod given to the fact that most of these tales come from the Western canon but I don't think the book did enough to acknowledge that and dig into it. There is no discussion of racism which was again surprising to me.

Of the essays that are there, some of them seemed to be grasping at straws or overstating the importance of specifically fairy tales as children's literature - as if children aren't just as shaped by the television, Internet, movies, and contemporary books? It felt like the book was imagining children who sit around the fire and hear an old timer tell a tale that shapes their whole reality, not the children we have today who are exposed to so much advertising, movies, books, TV, video games, all tailored exactly to hold their interest. I don't think fairy tales rank very high on a list of enculturating factors anymore.

The book ends with two essays about film, starting with an essay on Disney. To me this felt the most dated of all despite this book being only about 10 years old. During that time streaming services have boomed, including Disney+, and social pressures have forced Disney to make some attempts at incorporating diversity and more feminist narratives. They also acquired Pixar which, while not as much in the fairy tale market, has influenced Disney's traditional storytelling methods. I don't expect that essay to read the future, however, I feel it is no longer relevant.

The last essay is about Shrek which really made me feel old. Surprisingly though, I think this essay anticipated more about the direction we were heading after Shrek. A fairy tale landscape that veered too hard into satire and away from authenticity and, since then, has sort of course corrected.

Overall this book was interesting if you are into fairy tales and children's literature. Although it feels a bit dated now, I'm glad I read it and it made me want to read more old fairy tales, retold fairy tales, and fairy tale criticism.

[Jaimie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m well past the time when I wanted to do anything remotely academic with folk and fairy tales, but somehow I can’t seem to give up collecting anthologies, editions, and the occasional academically-inclined volume. This book is definitely of the latter variety, and spends a decent amount of time discussing critical theory, but I still enjoyed temporarily delving back into this area of study. The majority of the volume is separated into chapters discussing a specific traditional tale or a prevalent trope within the genre, so it was easy to get caught up reading the groupings of stories as long as I took breaks between different iterations – though a certain amount of critical analysis couldn’t help but sneak in, since we would often be reading similarly-veined tales back to back. Concluding the volume there’s a decent selection of essays from academics in the field (some notably outdated, and others more recent to the time of publication), but after trying to read the first one I was reminded why I quit the world of academia a long time ago: the way these essays are written is enough to suck the joy out of any subject, no matter how passionate the author and reader are. Cut to me closing the pages on this volume pre-emptively, since we’re here for the tales, not for the academy!

[Taylor Manookian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read most of this anthology for my fairytale class. It was really enjoyable! I love fairytales. It's been so interesting to learn about the different origins and the different versions of the tales i love so much. especially because i discovered Perrault and how a lot of my favs are from his versions not the grimms versions. Like the only cinderella with the pumpkin carriage and glass slippers is perraults! Who knew! it's been great. i love this class.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technically I didn't completely finish this book. I read more than half of it in random sections for my children's literature class and thoroughly enjoyed it. Interesting take on children's literature especially if you want to begin your deep dive into the origin stories of everything we knew and loved as kids. Good analysis in between as well!

[☮ morgan ☮ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The stories themselves were interesting enough. What ruins this is the authors commentary, which comes off very cynical and condescending. I really don't understand the need to belittle and degrade one group of women in order for them to boost up another. Why can't we just be supportive of one another instead of trying to tear each other down?

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting selection of fairy tales, some of which were old favourites, some surprises, some variations, and a few reworkings and retellings. At the end is some critical review of the genre from multiple perspectives. A fascinating read.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a class on folklore and fairytales, it was interesting to see how the same stories or themes reappeared through the oral traditions of many cultures without interaction.

[Madame Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a college elective. Interesting theories.

[Liz Bracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent text for my Children’s Lit class. Good list of references to take a reader on to other publications.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome collection of folklore and fairy tales. It gives a collection of different variations of each story, and the brief background history included before each category is very well written and helpful in giving a deeper understanding of the stories. I also found the essays in the back of the book about folklore to be very informative and interesting. The editors did a great job in giving different perspectives on the topic of folklore (i.e. folklorist, feminist, and other takes on the subject). This book is great and really helpful in giving a general and deeper understanding of the history and cultural influence of folklore.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book all semester that I read the whole way through, of course I had required journal entries following every section. So, yeah, caring about my grade for the course this term really made a difference here. I do not recommend reading it all in one day, because you may feel sluggish afterwards and find the "Story of Three Little Pigs" to be your favorite, because let's face it there is just something ridiculously funny about pigs with machine guns; or maybe that's just me.

It was a good book. Kudos.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read selected stories for ENGL2298:

SLEEPING BEAUTY: "Sun, Moon, and Talia" (Basile); "Sleeping Beauty in the Woods" (Perrault); "Briar Rose" (Grimm)
CINDERELLA: "Cinderella" (Perrault); "Ashenputtel" (Grimm); "Vasilisa the Beautiful" (Afanas'ev); "The Indian Cinderella" (Macmillan); "Little Gold Star" (San Souci); "Cinderella" (Sexton); "When the Clock Strikes" (Lee); "The Wicked Stepmother's Lament" (Maitland)
ANIMAL BRIDEGROOM: "Beauty and the Beast" (Beaumont); Criticism by Rowe, Lurie, Tosi
OTHER: "The Ugly Duckling" (Anderson); "The Happy Prince" (Wilde)

[Afton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a great mix of some of the best stories and gives you a good idea of how each fairy tale progressed/changed or was embedded in different cultures over time. Sometimes the versions can get a bit repetitive, but overall this is a really good compilation. The more modern versions of the stories are particularly something you should check out.. especially "The Company of Wolves" by Angela Carter... super creepy but i really loved it... maybe thats just me.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really know how best to review an anthology of folk and fairy tales. Some of the tales are fun to read. Some are not. Some of the stories are good for analysis. Some are not. Some are worthwhile for teaching purposes. Some are not.

It's a grab bag of tales and, to be fair, I think that most of the wonder and graciousness we have for Fairy Tales is a result of our familiarity with their Disney-fied variants. Good as a resource on a shelf for teaching or reading to small children.

[Emily Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the concise edition of this collection for a Young Adult Literature class I am taking for university. While this book only contains Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel, these particular stories are very comprehensive. There are multiple tellings and detailed history of each classic folk tale. I learned a lot about the fairy tale and about the history of children's literature from Hallett and Karasek. I'm glad for the reading experience.

[Ben Siems · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very nice study in the evolution (or gradual debasement over time, depending on one's point of view) of the fairy tale, with the all-time greats all represented and a number of little-known but wonderful tales as well. The commentary is academic, and at that, occasionally rather stiff and dry, but all in all, a very nice read.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used this book in a Children's Literature course I took in my undergrad as an elective and oh my was it enlightening. Truly fascinating to discover all the different versions of seemingly well know fairy tales. From touching and wholesome to gruesome and horrifying, the history of these tales should be something we all discover.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great way to study fairy tales. It has all the classics, with multiple versions, and then some. A lot of perspectives are viewed and analyzed in context of fairy tales and overall an enjoyable read.

[Amie Doughty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent brief introduction to folktales. I'd have like to see the Chinese version of Cinderella and some additional folktale revisions in it (like those in the Red Riding Hood chapter), but it was an effective enough text for the class I was teaching.

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid book of fairy tales and folk tales, used in my course of Mythology and Symbolism, this one is a fabulous collection, and is definitely set off by the formal essays at the end of the book - including one by Tolkein.

[Zeddd · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my Children's Literature course:

I really liked re-reading the fairy tales and analyzing them in class, and the criticisms at the back of the books were quite interesting to read. My favourite fairy tale was Angela Carter's A Company of Wolves - so so good!