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The Pomegranates and Other Modern Italian Fairy Tales
A collection of magical Italian folk and fairy tales--most in English for the first time
The Pomegranates and Other Modern Italian Fairy Tales presents twenty magical stories published between 1875 and 1914, following Italy's political unification. In those decades of political and social change, folklorists collected fairy tales from many regions of the country while influential writers invented original narratives in standard Italian, drawing on traditional tales in local dialects, and translated others from France. This collection features a range of these entertaining jewels from such authors as Carlo Collodi, most celebrated for the novel Pinocchio, and Domenico Comparetti, regarded as the Italian Grimm, to Grazia Deledda, the only Italian woman to have received the Nobel Prize in Literature. With one exception, all of these tales are appearing in English for the first time.
The stories in this volume are linked by themes of metamorphosis: a man turns into a lion, a dove, and an ant; a handsome youth emerges from a pig's body; and three lovely women rise out of the rinds of pomegranates. There are also more introspective transformations: a self-absorbed princess learns about manners, a melancholy prince finds joy again, and a complacent young woman discovers gratitude. Cristina Mazzoni provides a comprehensive introduction that situates the tales in their cultural and historical context. The collection also includes period illustrations and biographical notes about the authors.
Filled with adventures, supernatural and fantastic events, and brave and flawed protagonists, The Pomegranates and Other Modern Italian Fairy Tales will delight, surprise, and astonish.
The Pomegranates and Other Modern Italian Fairy Tales presents twenty magical stories published between 1875 and 1914, following Italy's political unification. In those decades of political and social change, folklorists collected fairy tales from many regions of the country while influential writers invented original narratives in standard Italian, drawing on traditional tales in local dialects, and translated others from France. This collection features a range of these entertaining jewels from such authors as Carlo Collodi, most celebrated for the novel Pinocchio, and Domenico Comparetti, regarded as the Italian Grimm, to Grazia Deledda, the only Italian woman to have received the Nobel Prize in Literature. With one exception, all of these tales are appearing in English for the first time.
The stories in this volume are linked by themes of metamorphosis: a man turns into a lion, a dove, and an ant; a handsome youth emerges from a pig's body; and three lovely women rise out of the rinds of pomegranates. There are also more introspective transformations: a self-absorbed princess learns about manners, a melancholy prince finds joy again, and a complacent young woman discovers gratitude. Cristina Mazzoni provides a comprehensive introduction that situates the tales in their cultural and historical context. The collection also includes period illustrations and biographical notes about the authors.
Filled with adventures, supernatural and fantastic events, and brave and flawed protagonists, The Pomegranates and Other Modern Italian Fairy Tales will delight, surprise, and astonish.
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 14, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 2, 2022
ngl I enjoyed this more than Angela Carter
October 8, 2022
I had fun reading this, but wow, the Italians only knew how to tell stories about damsels in distress back in the day!
March 11, 2024
This collection was a unique look at fairytales with their own 19th-century Italian flavor. Some stories certainly feel familiar, and it's also the feeling I get when watching those Hungarian folk tales on YouTube. Unquestionably fairy tales, but it does leave very distinct modern traces such as in Prince Valorous's Doll. Some of the stories have highly questionable endings, that made me think - what the heck was the moral of this story if it even had one? See Bad Pumpkin for an example. I personally enjoyed The She-Mule of Abbess Sofia, for who doesn't like an ass-kicking mule? Very strong Christian undertones in this one too.
All in all, a fun read if you're into fairytales.
All in all, a fun read if you're into fairytales.
May 6, 2022
Impressive collection of fairytales. Surely familiar storylines for those who have read lots of fairytale before and somewhat tiresome repeat of same plot lines. Assume it is expected when it is a collection of stories from 1800s so have patience when reading trough this book.
The fascinating part is how much we as humans are alike no matter where we come from.
The fascinating part is how much we as humans are alike no matter where we come from.
April 5, 2022
Heartwarming tales
Very traditional fairytales with a lot of overlap with more widely known tales. Humorous and captivating soories and an enjoyable collection.
Very traditional fairytales with a lot of overlap with more widely known tales. Humorous and captivating soories and an enjoyable collection.
August 20, 2023
Very interesting to read a collection tales from Italy and see how some themes are similar to each other and to Disney fairytale. And to hear the Italianness of some elements.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews