“The realm of fairy-story is wide and deep and high and filled with many things: all manner of beasts and birds are found
there; shoreless seas and stars uncounted; beauty that is an enchantment, and an ever-present peril; both joy and sorrow as sharp as swords.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, "On Fairy-Stories"
Susan here, thinking about fairy tales – they fill my bookshelves and always have, from tattered, beloved childhood copies to antique fairy tale books to anthologies and academic studies of fairy tale themes. I still read them. I still love them.
“I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.” –Mae West
Among my favorites are an old copy of the complete tales of The Brothers Grimm, and other collections of Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Perrault, and Andrew Lang—The Blue Fairy Book, The Red Fairy Book, the Green Fairy Book (and The Yellow, Pink, Grey, Violet, Crimson, Scarlet, Orange, Olive and Lilac Books).
My favorite as a child was probably the Little Golden Book of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, so beautifully illustrated by Sheilah Beckett. When I was very little, I sometimes slept with my fairy tale books, absorbing the stories night and day. In college, I loved reading studies of fairy tales—Bruno Bettelheim’s The Uses of Enchantment, Marina Warner’s fabulous From the Beast to the Blonde, the work of Jack Zipes, and more.
“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” –Albert Einstein
Fairy tales go back thousands of years, along with myths and legends, as far back as caves and bright fires and the urge to explain why the stars sparkle, the wind blows, why thunderclouds look like dragons, and that a sunbeam or a rainbow may be a magical being in disguise. Stories explore life and give us choices and tools to address and comprehend what we encounter in the realm of reality.
I learned about life, love, good and evil, morals, integrity, and absorbed the
elements of classic storytelling from reading fairy tales. I was equally enchanted by the illustrations, turning pages just to study the pictures, copying them in crayons, constantly learning (when I was three, I drew princesses in pink dresses all over the family Bible—in my defense, the endpapers were blank, and I had crayons!). The story and life elements were subliminal, but took hold. I was just loving the stories, the characters, the brave girls and boys, the triumph over obstacles on the road to a happier life. All useful lessons, years later.
"In a utilitarian age, of all other times, it is a matter of grave importance that fairy tales should be respected." –Charles Dickens
It’s well known now that fairy tales, myths, and legends are essential for building, expanding and strengthening a child’s understanding of right and wrong, cruel and kind, hope and fear and how to overcome. They demonstrate basic tools of humanity, compassion, loyalty, ingenuity, and their opposite qualities too. Good doesn’t always win, but the tales provide a matrix for understanding archetypes, the quest and the journey, the crucial importance of choice. They give us a glimpse of a mysterious world beyond our own, a world of fairies, elves, witches, dragons, dark ones and light ones. Child or adult, we can learn or be reminded that there are forces in life we can’t always control or explain, but we can call up strength and integrity. And they show us that no matter the outcome, it’s important to do the best thing for ourselves and for others.
“The consolation of fairy-stories, the joy of the happy ending: or more correctly of the good catastrophe, the sudden joyous 'turn' (for there is no true end to any fairy-tale): this joy, which is one of the things which fairy-stories can produce supremely well, is not essentially 'escapist,' nor 'fugitive.' In its fairy-tale–or otherworld–setting, it is a sudden and miraculous grace: never to be counted on to recur.” –J.R.R. Tolkein
And there’s that happily-ever-after thing as well, the perfect (or imperfect) match, the challenges, the misunderstandings, the threat, the quest, love and yearning and the courage to declare and honor love, then revelation and resolution. We may also learn in fairy tales that the HEA is never a guarantee (whereas in romance novels, we’ve polished that little detail). Characters may be left on their own, or together, possibly perfect, possibly flawed. And that’s life.
“There is the great lesson of 'Beauty and the Beast,' that a thing must be loved before it is lovable.” ― G.K. Chesterton
Fairy tales led me to reading and then writing romance. It’s a short leap in the storytelling canon from fairy tales to romance, where the elements of storytelling are not only solidly honored, but often elevated to something powerful and enduring. As for me, I feel sure there is a fairy tale or two woven into every novel I’ve ever written.
"Fairy tales do not give the child his first idea of bogey. What fairy tales give the child is his first clear idea of the possible defeat of bogey. The baby has known the dragon intimately ever since he had an imagination. What the fairy tale provides for him is a St. George to kill the dragon.” –G. K. Chesterton
What about you? Did you love fairy tales, did you cut your writer’s or reader’s teeth on Cinderella and Snow White and other stories? What were your favorites?
I have always adored fairy tales, folk tales, and myths; among my picture books was a retelling of the classic myths. My parents read it to me as well as reading “The Real Mother Goose” and a book of Robert Louis Stevens poems, among others>
I have always adored fairy tales, folk tales, and myths; among my picture books was a retelling of the classic myths. My parents read it to me as well as reading “The Real Mother Goose” and a book of Robert Louis Stevens poems, among others>
I have always adored fairy tales, folk tales, and myths; among my picture books was a retelling of the classic myths. My parents read it to me as well as reading “The Real Mother Goose” and a book of Robert Louis Stevens poems, among others>
I have always adored fairy tales, folk tales, and myths; among my picture books was a retelling of the classic myths. My parents read it to me as well as reading “The Real Mother Goose” and a book of Robert Louis Stevens poems, among others>
I have always adored fairy tales, folk tales, and myths; among my picture books was a retelling of the classic myths. My parents read it to me as well as reading “The Real Mother Goose” and a book of Robert Louis Stevens poems, among others>
What a fabulous article—and the illustrations! I’d forgotten the magic of faerie tale art. Are a few of the illustrations by Arthur Rackham? And I’ve never seen the Beauty and the Beast illustration before! The complex emotions it conveys…wow.
Just want to thank you for the lovely reminders and echo your recommendation of Bruno Bettelheim’s The Uses of Enchantment. I think my daughter has grown up to be a stronger, more imaginative, and braver person because Bettelheim’s book changed my mind about reading faerie tales to her!
Thanks for the lovely reminder and gorgeous visuals…
Cheers,
Faith
What a fabulous article—and the illustrations! I’d forgotten the magic of faerie tale art. Are a few of the illustrations by Arthur Rackham? And I’ve never seen the Beauty and the Beast illustration before! The complex emotions it conveys…wow.
Just want to thank you for the lovely reminders and echo your recommendation of Bruno Bettelheim’s The Uses of Enchantment. I think my daughter has grown up to be a stronger, more imaginative, and braver person because Bettelheim’s book changed my mind about reading faerie tales to her!
Thanks for the lovely reminder and gorgeous visuals…
Cheers,
Faith
What a fabulous article—and the illustrations! I’d forgotten the magic of faerie tale art. Are a few of the illustrations by Arthur Rackham? And I’ve never seen the Beauty and the Beast illustration before! The complex emotions it conveys…wow.
Just want to thank you for the lovely reminders and echo your recommendation of Bruno Bettelheim’s The Uses of Enchantment. I think my daughter has grown up to be a stronger, more imaginative, and braver person because Bettelheim’s book changed my mind about reading faerie tales to her!
Thanks for the lovely reminder and gorgeous visuals…
Cheers,
Faith
What a fabulous article—and the illustrations! I’d forgotten the magic of faerie tale art. Are a few of the illustrations by Arthur Rackham? And I’ve never seen the Beauty and the Beast illustration before! The complex emotions it conveys…wow.
Just want to thank you for the lovely reminders and echo your recommendation of Bruno Bettelheim’s The Uses of Enchantment. I think my daughter has grown up to be a stronger, more imaginative, and braver person because Bettelheim’s book changed my mind about reading faerie tales to her!
Thanks for the lovely reminder and gorgeous visuals…
Cheers,
Faith
What a fabulous article—and the illustrations! I’d forgotten the magic of faerie tale art. Are a few of the illustrations by Arthur Rackham? And I’ve never seen the Beauty and the Beast illustration before! The complex emotions it conveys…wow.
Just want to thank you for the lovely reminders and echo your recommendation of Bruno Bettelheim’s The Uses of Enchantment. I think my daughter has grown up to be a stronger, more imaginative, and braver person because Bettelheim’s book changed my mind about reading faerie tales to her!
Thanks for the lovely reminder and gorgeous visuals…
Cheers,
Faith
We grew up with a copy of Grimm’s fairy tales. It was a big old book, and I have no idea what happened to it. The story I remember best was Hansel and Gretel. My father had us convinced that an old abandoned farmhouse in the woods near where we lived was the witch’s house from the story!
We grew up with a copy of Grimm’s fairy tales. It was a big old book, and I have no idea what happened to it. The story I remember best was Hansel and Gretel. My father had us convinced that an old abandoned farmhouse in the woods near where we lived was the witch’s house from the story!
We grew up with a copy of Grimm’s fairy tales. It was a big old book, and I have no idea what happened to it. The story I remember best was Hansel and Gretel. My father had us convinced that an old abandoned farmhouse in the woods near where we lived was the witch’s house from the story!
We grew up with a copy of Grimm’s fairy tales. It was a big old book, and I have no idea what happened to it. The story I remember best was Hansel and Gretel. My father had us convinced that an old abandoned farmhouse in the woods near where we lived was the witch’s house from the story!
We grew up with a copy of Grimm’s fairy tales. It was a big old book, and I have no idea what happened to it. The story I remember best was Hansel and Gretel. My father had us convinced that an old abandoned farmhouse in the woods near where we lived was the witch’s house from the story!
Such a lovely post, Susan, and those illustrations are wonderful! You’ve made me want to collect those books as well now. I adored fairy tales as a child and still do. My absolute favourite was always Rapunzel because of her long hair, but I also liked Cinderella where the mean step-mother and sisters got their come-uppance, so satisfying. Really disliked H C Anderson though – those are too sad for me.
Such a lovely post, Susan, and those illustrations are wonderful! You’ve made me want to collect those books as well now. I adored fairy tales as a child and still do. My absolute favourite was always Rapunzel because of her long hair, but I also liked Cinderella where the mean step-mother and sisters got their come-uppance, so satisfying. Really disliked H C Anderson though – those are too sad for me.
Such a lovely post, Susan, and those illustrations are wonderful! You’ve made me want to collect those books as well now. I adored fairy tales as a child and still do. My absolute favourite was always Rapunzel because of her long hair, but I also liked Cinderella where the mean step-mother and sisters got their come-uppance, so satisfying. Really disliked H C Anderson though – those are too sad for me.
Such a lovely post, Susan, and those illustrations are wonderful! You’ve made me want to collect those books as well now. I adored fairy tales as a child and still do. My absolute favourite was always Rapunzel because of her long hair, but I also liked Cinderella where the mean step-mother and sisters got their come-uppance, so satisfying. Really disliked H C Anderson though – those are too sad for me.
Such a lovely post, Susan, and those illustrations are wonderful! You’ve made me want to collect those books as well now. I adored fairy tales as a child and still do. My absolute favourite was always Rapunzel because of her long hair, but I also liked Cinderella where the mean step-mother and sisters got their come-uppance, so satisfying. Really disliked H C Anderson though – those are too sad for me.
This post brought back some lovely memories. Every night my mother would ask us kids if we wanted her to read a couple of chapters from a book, tell us some fairy tales or sing some songs for us. Most of the time we chose the fairy tales. She didn’t read them to us. She knew them by heart. She would just tell them to us. I think she probably made some of them up herself – know at least one was one her mother had made up. I too, think those stories were the start of my love for romance.
And a shout out to those Golden Books. We collected them like kids today collect Barbies. And you ladies always choose such lovely illustrations.
This post brought back some lovely memories. Every night my mother would ask us kids if we wanted her to read a couple of chapters from a book, tell us some fairy tales or sing some songs for us. Most of the time we chose the fairy tales. She didn’t read them to us. She knew them by heart. She would just tell them to us. I think she probably made some of them up herself – know at least one was one her mother had made up. I too, think those stories were the start of my love for romance.
And a shout out to those Golden Books. We collected them like kids today collect Barbies. And you ladies always choose such lovely illustrations.
This post brought back some lovely memories. Every night my mother would ask us kids if we wanted her to read a couple of chapters from a book, tell us some fairy tales or sing some songs for us. Most of the time we chose the fairy tales. She didn’t read them to us. She knew them by heart. She would just tell them to us. I think she probably made some of them up herself – know at least one was one her mother had made up. I too, think those stories were the start of my love for romance.
And a shout out to those Golden Books. We collected them like kids today collect Barbies. And you ladies always choose such lovely illustrations.
This post brought back some lovely memories. Every night my mother would ask us kids if we wanted her to read a couple of chapters from a book, tell us some fairy tales or sing some songs for us. Most of the time we chose the fairy tales. She didn’t read them to us. She knew them by heart. She would just tell them to us. I think she probably made some of them up herself – know at least one was one her mother had made up. I too, think those stories were the start of my love for romance.
And a shout out to those Golden Books. We collected them like kids today collect Barbies. And you ladies always choose such lovely illustrations.
This post brought back some lovely memories. Every night my mother would ask us kids if we wanted her to read a couple of chapters from a book, tell us some fairy tales or sing some songs for us. Most of the time we chose the fairy tales. She didn’t read them to us. She knew them by heart. She would just tell them to us. I think she probably made some of them up herself – know at least one was one her mother had made up. I too, think those stories were the start of my love for romance.
And a shout out to those Golden Books. We collected them like kids today collect Barbies. And you ladies always choose such lovely illustrations.
A wonderful blog, Susan, with wonderful illustrations! I knew you loved fairy tales, but didn’t realize you slept with your favorite books as a child. That is sweet and somehow unsurprising. *G* I read my share of fairy tales, but didn’t sleep with any of the books, probably because I didn’t think of it!
A wonderful blog, Susan, with wonderful illustrations! I knew you loved fairy tales, but didn’t realize you slept with your favorite books as a child. That is sweet and somehow unsurprising. *G* I read my share of fairy tales, but didn’t sleep with any of the books, probably because I didn’t think of it!
A wonderful blog, Susan, with wonderful illustrations! I knew you loved fairy tales, but didn’t realize you slept with your favorite books as a child. That is sweet and somehow unsurprising. *G* I read my share of fairy tales, but didn’t sleep with any of the books, probably because I didn’t think of it!
A wonderful blog, Susan, with wonderful illustrations! I knew you loved fairy tales, but didn’t realize you slept with your favorite books as a child. That is sweet and somehow unsurprising. *G* I read my share of fairy tales, but didn’t sleep with any of the books, probably because I didn’t think of it!
A wonderful blog, Susan, with wonderful illustrations! I knew you loved fairy tales, but didn’t realize you slept with your favorite books as a child. That is sweet and somehow unsurprising. *G* I read my share of fairy tales, but didn’t sleep with any of the books, probably because I didn’t think of it!
This is a lovely post. Thank you for the illustrations as well as the wonderful reminders.
When I was small, my father bought me a set of classic books…..about half of them were based on fairy tales. Those books were part of the reason I started reading so young. I was also reading non-fiction stories of WWII. For me, at that time, reading was an addiction like it is now.
Those WWII books were prime examples of the fact that we did not always get happily every after. I would have preferred to live in a fairy tale.
Thanks again for this terrific post.
Hope everyone is well and safe and happy.
This is a lovely post. Thank you for the illustrations as well as the wonderful reminders.
When I was small, my father bought me a set of classic books…..about half of them were based on fairy tales. Those books were part of the reason I started reading so young. I was also reading non-fiction stories of WWII. For me, at that time, reading was an addiction like it is now.
Those WWII books were prime examples of the fact that we did not always get happily every after. I would have preferred to live in a fairy tale.
Thanks again for this terrific post.
Hope everyone is well and safe and happy.
This is a lovely post. Thank you for the illustrations as well as the wonderful reminders.
When I was small, my father bought me a set of classic books…..about half of them were based on fairy tales. Those books were part of the reason I started reading so young. I was also reading non-fiction stories of WWII. For me, at that time, reading was an addiction like it is now.
Those WWII books were prime examples of the fact that we did not always get happily every after. I would have preferred to live in a fairy tale.
Thanks again for this terrific post.
Hope everyone is well and safe and happy.
This is a lovely post. Thank you for the illustrations as well as the wonderful reminders.
When I was small, my father bought me a set of classic books…..about half of them were based on fairy tales. Those books were part of the reason I started reading so young. I was also reading non-fiction stories of WWII. For me, at that time, reading was an addiction like it is now.
Those WWII books were prime examples of the fact that we did not always get happily every after. I would have preferred to live in a fairy tale.
Thanks again for this terrific post.
Hope everyone is well and safe and happy.
This is a lovely post. Thank you for the illustrations as well as the wonderful reminders.
When I was small, my father bought me a set of classic books…..about half of them were based on fairy tales. Those books were part of the reason I started reading so young. I was also reading non-fiction stories of WWII. For me, at that time, reading was an addiction like it is now.
Those WWII books were prime examples of the fact that we did not always get happily every after. I would have preferred to live in a fairy tale.
Thanks again for this terrific post.
Hope everyone is well and safe and happy.
I loved fairy tales as a child, and rediscovered them in Robin McKinley’s books, such as “Beauty.” I love how she turned them into stories of strong girls. Now, I find delight in reading a romance that is inspired by Fairy Tales. I enjoyed Eloisa James’s “Ugly Duchess” and the rest of her “Desperate Duchess” series. As for the Duke of Villiers, who doesn’t like a villain who is really a Prince Charming.
I loved fairy tales as a child, and rediscovered them in Robin McKinley’s books, such as “Beauty.” I love how she turned them into stories of strong girls. Now, I find delight in reading a romance that is inspired by Fairy Tales. I enjoyed Eloisa James’s “Ugly Duchess” and the rest of her “Desperate Duchess” series. As for the Duke of Villiers, who doesn’t like a villain who is really a Prince Charming.
I loved fairy tales as a child, and rediscovered them in Robin McKinley’s books, such as “Beauty.” I love how she turned them into stories of strong girls. Now, I find delight in reading a romance that is inspired by Fairy Tales. I enjoyed Eloisa James’s “Ugly Duchess” and the rest of her “Desperate Duchess” series. As for the Duke of Villiers, who doesn’t like a villain who is really a Prince Charming.
I loved fairy tales as a child, and rediscovered them in Robin McKinley’s books, such as “Beauty.” I love how she turned them into stories of strong girls. Now, I find delight in reading a romance that is inspired by Fairy Tales. I enjoyed Eloisa James’s “Ugly Duchess” and the rest of her “Desperate Duchess” series. As for the Duke of Villiers, who doesn’t like a villain who is really a Prince Charming.
I loved fairy tales as a child, and rediscovered them in Robin McKinley’s books, such as “Beauty.” I love how she turned them into stories of strong girls. Now, I find delight in reading a romance that is inspired by Fairy Tales. I enjoyed Eloisa James’s “Ugly Duchess” and the rest of her “Desperate Duchess” series. As for the Duke of Villiers, who doesn’t like a villain who is really a Prince Charming.
Thanks for a wonderful post, Susan. I don’t recall too many specific books from my childhood, but I do remember a collection of Russian fairytales that we owned. I fear it got lost/discarded in one of our frequent moves.
I read Bruno Bettelheim’s book, too, and my daughter grew up with many fairytales. My favorite quote of the ones above is the one by Mae West; its cleverness and wit always makes me laugh.
Thanks for a wonderful post, Susan. I don’t recall too many specific books from my childhood, but I do remember a collection of Russian fairytales that we owned. I fear it got lost/discarded in one of our frequent moves.
I read Bruno Bettelheim’s book, too, and my daughter grew up with many fairytales. My favorite quote of the ones above is the one by Mae West; its cleverness and wit always makes me laugh.
Thanks for a wonderful post, Susan. I don’t recall too many specific books from my childhood, but I do remember a collection of Russian fairytales that we owned. I fear it got lost/discarded in one of our frequent moves.
I read Bruno Bettelheim’s book, too, and my daughter grew up with many fairytales. My favorite quote of the ones above is the one by Mae West; its cleverness and wit always makes me laugh.
Thanks for a wonderful post, Susan. I don’t recall too many specific books from my childhood, but I do remember a collection of Russian fairytales that we owned. I fear it got lost/discarded in one of our frequent moves.
I read Bruno Bettelheim’s book, too, and my daughter grew up with many fairytales. My favorite quote of the ones above is the one by Mae West; its cleverness and wit always makes me laugh.
Thanks for a wonderful post, Susan. I don’t recall too many specific books from my childhood, but I do remember a collection of Russian fairytales that we owned. I fear it got lost/discarded in one of our frequent moves.
I read Bruno Bettelheim’s book, too, and my daughter grew up with many fairytales. My favorite quote of the ones above is the one by Mae West; its cleverness and wit always makes me laugh.
I love fairy tales! I grew up reading the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Andersen, and all of Andrew Lang’s “colored” collections. My favorite was The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
I love fairy tales! I grew up reading the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Andersen, and all of Andrew Lang’s “colored” collections. My favorite was The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
I love fairy tales! I grew up reading the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Andersen, and all of Andrew Lang’s “colored” collections. My favorite was The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
I love fairy tales! I grew up reading the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Andersen, and all of Andrew Lang’s “colored” collections. My favorite was The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
I love fairy tales! I grew up reading the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Andersen, and all of Andrew Lang’s “colored” collections. My favorite was The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
The illustrations here are fabulous!!! Rapunzal was always my favourite fairy tale growing up and then Beauty and the Beast. This is lovely post that has brought back a lot of memories for me.
The illustrations here are fabulous!!! Rapunzal was always my favourite fairy tale growing up and then Beauty and the Beast. This is lovely post that has brought back a lot of memories for me.
The illustrations here are fabulous!!! Rapunzal was always my favourite fairy tale growing up and then Beauty and the Beast. This is lovely post that has brought back a lot of memories for me.
The illustrations here are fabulous!!! Rapunzal was always my favourite fairy tale growing up and then Beauty and the Beast. This is lovely post that has brought back a lot of memories for me.
The illustrations here are fabulous!!! Rapunzal was always my favourite fairy tale growing up and then Beauty and the Beast. This is lovely post that has brought back a lot of memories for me.
One of my favourite fairy tale collections is East o’ the Sun, West o’ the Moon. I love the story too, and there are so many variants of it. Like Fenist the Falcon, or even Cupid and Psyche.
I have quite a number of other fairy tale collections as well. Thanks for a great article.
One of my favourite fairy tale collections is East o’ the Sun, West o’ the Moon. I love the story too, and there are so many variants of it. Like Fenist the Falcon, or even Cupid and Psyche.
I have quite a number of other fairy tale collections as well. Thanks for a great article.
One of my favourite fairy tale collections is East o’ the Sun, West o’ the Moon. I love the story too, and there are so many variants of it. Like Fenist the Falcon, or even Cupid and Psyche.
I have quite a number of other fairy tale collections as well. Thanks for a great article.
One of my favourite fairy tale collections is East o’ the Sun, West o’ the Moon. I love the story too, and there are so many variants of it. Like Fenist the Falcon, or even Cupid and Psyche.
I have quite a number of other fairy tale collections as well. Thanks for a great article.
One of my favourite fairy tale collections is East o’ the Sun, West o’ the Moon. I love the story too, and there are so many variants of it. Like Fenist the Falcon, or even Cupid and Psyche.
I have quite a number of other fairy tale collections as well. Thanks for a great article.
Very interesting and beautifully illustrated post. Makes me hope that I read enough fairy tales to my children! Bruno Bettelheim’s book sounds fascinating
Very interesting and beautifully illustrated post. Makes me hope that I read enough fairy tales to my children! Bruno Bettelheim’s book sounds fascinating
Very interesting and beautifully illustrated post. Makes me hope that I read enough fairy tales to my children! Bruno Bettelheim’s book sounds fascinating
Very interesting and beautifully illustrated post. Makes me hope that I read enough fairy tales to my children! Bruno Bettelheim’s book sounds fascinating
Very interesting and beautifully illustrated post. Makes me hope that I read enough fairy tales to my children! Bruno Bettelheim’s book sounds fascinating
My favorite fairytales were The Old Woman in the Wood and Beauty and the Beast.
My favorite fairytales were The Old Woman in the Wood and Beauty and the Beast.
My favorite fairytales were The Old Woman in the Wood and Beauty and the Beast.
My favorite fairytales were The Old Woman in the Wood and Beauty and the Beast.
My favorite fairytales were The Old Woman in the Wood and Beauty and the Beast.
I loved fairy tales—except for Anderson’s. They terrified me, and I still get shudders when I think of The Little Girl Who Trod on a Loaf and The Snow Queen.
I read an article one time that talked about the subversive elements in fairy tales — the idea that the one who saves the day is often the clever young girl or the younger son. When I thought about it,it surprised me how often that is true.
I loved fairy tales—except for Anderson’s. They terrified me, and I still get shudders when I think of The Little Girl Who Trod on a Loaf and The Snow Queen.
I read an article one time that talked about the subversive elements in fairy tales — the idea that the one who saves the day is often the clever young girl or the younger son. When I thought about it,it surprised me how often that is true.
I loved fairy tales—except for Anderson’s. They terrified me, and I still get shudders when I think of The Little Girl Who Trod on a Loaf and The Snow Queen.
I read an article one time that talked about the subversive elements in fairy tales — the idea that the one who saves the day is often the clever young girl or the younger son. When I thought about it,it surprised me how often that is true.
I loved fairy tales—except for Anderson’s. They terrified me, and I still get shudders when I think of The Little Girl Who Trod on a Loaf and The Snow Queen.
I read an article one time that talked about the subversive elements in fairy tales — the idea that the one who saves the day is often the clever young girl or the younger son. When I thought about it,it surprised me how often that is true.
I loved fairy tales—except for Anderson’s. They terrified me, and I still get shudders when I think of The Little Girl Who Trod on a Loaf and The Snow Queen.
I read an article one time that talked about the subversive elements in fairy tales — the idea that the one who saves the day is often the clever young girl or the younger son. When I thought about it,it surprised me how often that is true.
Omigosh Susan – great post! I too grew up reading and collecting fairy tales and made sure my children did as well. The illustrations are so good. I always loved the little Golden books too. Even now I’ll buy an Arthur Rackham calendar for my wall and save all the illustrations.
Omigosh Susan – great post! I too grew up reading and collecting fairy tales and made sure my children did as well. The illustrations are so good. I always loved the little Golden books too. Even now I’ll buy an Arthur Rackham calendar for my wall and save all the illustrations.
Omigosh Susan – great post! I too grew up reading and collecting fairy tales and made sure my children did as well. The illustrations are so good. I always loved the little Golden books too. Even now I’ll buy an Arthur Rackham calendar for my wall and save all the illustrations.
Omigosh Susan – great post! I too grew up reading and collecting fairy tales and made sure my children did as well. The illustrations are so good. I always loved the little Golden books too. Even now I’ll buy an Arthur Rackham calendar for my wall and save all the illustrations.
Omigosh Susan – great post! I too grew up reading and collecting fairy tales and made sure my children did as well. The illustrations are so good. I always loved the little Golden books too. Even now I’ll buy an Arthur Rackham calendar for my wall and save all the illustrations.