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Princess Stories: A Classic Illustrated Edition
The classic tales in this lavishly illustrated collection have enchanted generations of readers. Here, among others, is the fair Snow White, Rapunzel with her golden tresses, and the princess so delicate that even just a small pea hidden under 20 mattresses keeps her awake at night. The stories are paired with magnificent artwork by some of the most renowned children's book illustrators of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From Arthur Rackham to Millicent Sowerby to Kay Nielsen, each brought a unique artistic vision to these timeless tales. This beautifully designed edition is equally at home on a child's bedside table as it is on a collector's bookshelf.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published August 5, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 27, 2025
Most of the fairytales included are recognizable. The illustrations are fun, but because each story has multiple styles, they don't actually help tell the story. Beauty and the Beast is so altered that it is barely recognizable even as the Beaumont version. Don't worry, the Beast is very kind, but the story makes almost no sense, especially the end. And of course, I took so long to review it that I can't remember exactly what the changes were. I think it was that there was no time limit to the visit back home, no indication that he might die, and she chooses to go back after a few days because she doesn't like how her sisters are treating her and she misses the Beast. I don't recall him being at death's door when she gets back.
October 31, 2022
Princess Stories is another traditional tale I read for grades 6-12. I found this book in the traditional tale’s section of my school library. This is not one of the books I am reviewing, but I do want to share that there are multiple tales in one book: Cinderella, The Frog Prince, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Beauty in the Beast. This book is formatted like a picture book; the size is bigger, the hard cover has a large illustration. Each tale has a few pictures but most of the story is portrayed through paragraphs of text on each page in a smaller font.
January 14, 2024
rating: 3.5/5
July 31, 2017
“Princess Stories: A Classic Illustrated Edition” by Cooper Edens (2004) is a wonderful collection of centuries-old princess fairy-tales. For the 21st century reader, young or old, “Princess Stories” helps remind us of the captivating power of fairy-tales, something that has not faded even after all this time. In the preface, Edens writes, “The stories of eight girls supernaturally involved in becoming princesses are, in fact, one and the same story – a story that reminds us that evil cannot absolutely destroy what is real and good.” While there are plenty of ways to reach that same conclusion, fairy-tales are one of the best and most entrancing ways to see what is truly beautiful - in humans (and in creatures very, very different than humans), in nature, in animals, in art, in music, and within the soul. Reading and re-reading tales such as these is an act that preserves their magic.
This collection presents the tales just as they were written by their authors (with perhaps some minor changes). In particular, the tale of the Little Mermaid is especially heart-breaking given that the young mermaid suffers much more than solely losing her voice, and never ends up with her beloved prince. But she is given a gift in return for her goodness, a gift beyond her dreams. For a child, the story of the Little Mermaid might point to an understanding of the pain that life can bring, as well as the sweetness that comes from staying true to oneself.
Some of the most well-known illustrators from the late 19th and 20th centuries are featured in this book, giving readers an array of visual interpretations for each of the tales. For each fairy-tale, there are at least two different illustrations paired with it. Reading with this perspective allows the stories to become even more real, even more alive, as they are placed within various contexts and manifestations. Some are charming, some terrifying, some in color, some in black and white, some Medieval, some Victorian… and so on… but all unique, romantic, expressive, and profound. Arthur Rackham, Millicent Sowerby, and Kay Neilsen are among the featured artists within this collection.
The stories include Charles Perrault’s “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty”, as well as “The Frog Prince”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, and “Rapunzel” by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” and “The Princess and the Pea”, and Madame Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s “Beauty and the Beast”.
This collection presents the tales just as they were written by their authors (with perhaps some minor changes). In particular, the tale of the Little Mermaid is especially heart-breaking given that the young mermaid suffers much more than solely losing her voice, and never ends up with her beloved prince. But she is given a gift in return for her goodness, a gift beyond her dreams. For a child, the story of the Little Mermaid might point to an understanding of the pain that life can bring, as well as the sweetness that comes from staying true to oneself.
Some of the most well-known illustrators from the late 19th and 20th centuries are featured in this book, giving readers an array of visual interpretations for each of the tales. For each fairy-tale, there are at least two different illustrations paired with it. Reading with this perspective allows the stories to become even more real, even more alive, as they are placed within various contexts and manifestations. Some are charming, some terrifying, some in color, some in black and white, some Medieval, some Victorian… and so on… but all unique, romantic, expressive, and profound. Arthur Rackham, Millicent Sowerby, and Kay Neilsen are among the featured artists within this collection.
The stories include Charles Perrault’s “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty”, as well as “The Frog Prince”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, and “Rapunzel” by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” and “The Princess and the Pea”, and Madame Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s “Beauty and the Beast”.
September 11, 2017
This was great except that Beauty and the Beast was not actually the version by Leprince de Beaumont. It was definitely edited. Otherwise, I loved it and plan to purchase this book. I especially loved the compilations of illustrations.
December 9, 2023
Ariel commits suicide. The queen from Snow White has the Huntsman bring back her heart so she could eat it?! The Beast is just a big teddy bear.
Fun reads with my 6yo.
Fun reads with my 6yo.
July 28, 2015
There is a reason fairy tales (and especially ones of princesses) will always be beloved. They are archetypal, fundamental and transcendent. They are magical. And when paired with beautiful illustrations from the 19th and 20th century, they are breath-taking. These are the classic fairy tales, classic and un-Disneyfied.
In his introduction, Cooper Edens call them the eight indomitable princesses, the ones which best illustrate the hold that the tales have over us, the ones that "clearly represent to us that evil cannot absolutely destroy what is real and good."
And they do remind us, in their simple prose, as yet untouched by Disney and YA re-tellings. I had forgotten how beautiful they are.
The end of Sleeping Beauty made my heart dance, as the prince and his newfound princess speak little but weep upon meeting each other, clearly waiting all their lives for a moment they had not would known would come.
The Little Mermaid brought me to tears. A girl who loves and yet for love, sacrifices even her own life. A girl who wants an immortal soul, to go up into the pure air and reach the shining stars. It is a Good Story.
The entire collection is beautiful. In the words of Edens, these princesses "exist on their own, free from their creators, and rich in the promise to always exist and never have the virtue they symbolize transcended."
In his introduction, Cooper Edens call them the eight indomitable princesses, the ones which best illustrate the hold that the tales have over us, the ones that "clearly represent to us that evil cannot absolutely destroy what is real and good."
And they do remind us, in their simple prose, as yet untouched by Disney and YA re-tellings. I had forgotten how beautiful they are.
The end of Sleeping Beauty made my heart dance, as the prince and his newfound princess speak little but weep upon meeting each other, clearly waiting all their lives for a moment they had not would known would come.
The Little Mermaid brought me to tears. A girl who loves and yet for love, sacrifices even her own life. A girl who wants an immortal soul, to go up into the pure air and reach the shining stars. It is a Good Story.
The entire collection is beautiful. In the words of Edens, these princesses "exist on their own, free from their creators, and rich in the promise to always exist and never have the virtue they symbolize transcended."
March 16, 2008
The more we read these classic versions of the princess stories, the less my daughters and I like the sanitized, sappy Disney versions. This book contains "Cinderella," "The Frog Prince," "The Little Mermaid," "The Princess and the Pea," "Rapunzel," "Sleeping Beauty," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," and "Beauty and the Beast," with beautiful illustrations from the 1880s to 1920s.
June 21, 2010
This book is a must have for anyone who loves beautiful art and fairy tales. Cooper Edens has taken seven fairy tale princess stories and added the art of some of the great artists of the late 19th and early 20th century. It includes the artwork of many of my favorite artists, such as Kay Nielsen, Edmund Dulac, and Arthur Rackham. It was a delight to look at, as well as to read.
October 5, 2012
My girls and I just love the old illustrations that go along with the original fairy tales in this book. It is amazing to realize how long these stories have been around and how artists over the centuries have created such beautiful artwork to go along with them. Cinderella especially has been depicted in so many ways. Just a really interesting, fun book to check out.
November 11, 2008
I bought this book mostly for the art, for which each story has different artists and images. It's nice that each fairy tale is almost personalized by the art. I love this book!
August 29, 2022
Beautiful!
April 12, 2013
Lovely illustrations. The stories how they were meant to be told.
April 26, 2017
Nice collection of vintage illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews