The Fairytale as Art Form and Portrait of Man

by Max Lüthi

In this major work by the distinguished Swiss folklorist Max Lüthi, the traditional fairytale is examined from two related points of view, that of aesthetics and that of anthropology. Lüthi shows that fairytales are more than just a pleasing form; they present a particular way of looking at the world and at human existence. Thus, they must be evaluated in terms of what they say about man and the human condition.

This exemplary study will be read with enjoyment and profit not only by the literary scholar and folklore professional but by any reader who has ever delighted in fairytales.

Genres: Nonfiction, Folk Tales, Fairy Tales

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Hans Otterson]

I got this just to read the first chapter ("Beauty and Its Shock Effect") and that's what I read. Astute overview of the universal symbolism of simplicity and beauty in fairytales.