Dive into the provocative world of **Fairy Tales for the Disillusioned**, a captivating collection of thirty-six subversive French fairy tales that challenge traditional narratives. This brand new trade paperback, published by Princeton University Press in 2019, features newly translated stories by prominent figures from the decadent literary movement of late nineteenth-century France. Explore tales where familiar characters take shocking turns: witness Red Riding Hood cleverly tricking the wolf, and discover that Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella's stories do not conclude with 'happily ever after.' These enchanting yet unsettling narratives delve into themes of societal decline, the chaotic evolution of magic, and a poignant exploration of gender and industrial conflict.

Each tale is laced with a sense of irony and humor, offering readers a fresh perspective that speaks to today’s disillusionment with fairy tales. With an informative introduction and detailed biographical notes for each author, **Fairy Tales for the Disillusioned** not only entertains but also enlightens. Ideal for lovers of literature, folklore, and cultural critique, this collection will enthrall both the enchanted and the disenchanted.

**Shipping Information**: Enjoy free shipping on this item! Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Note that once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled. Order your copy today and embark on a fantastical journey filled with subversion and intrigue!

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691191416
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2019
Publisher: Princeton University Press


Description:


A new collection of subversive French fairy tales

The wolf is tricked by Red Riding Hood into strangling her grandmother and is subsequently arrested. Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella do not live happily ever after. And the fairies are saucy, angry, and capricious. Fairy Tales for the Disillusioned collects thirty-six tales, most newly translated, by writers associated with the decadent literary movement that flourished in late nineteenth-century France. These enchanting yet troubling stories reflect the concerns and fascinations of a time of great political, social, and cultural change. Recasting well-known favorites from classic French fairy tales, as well as Arthurian legends and English and German tales, these decadent fairy tales feature perverse settings and disillusioned perspectives, underlining such themes as the decline of civilization, the degeneration of magic and the unreal, gender confusion, and the incursion of the industrial. Complete with an informative introduction, biographical notes for each author, and explanatory notes throughout, these subversive tales will entertain and startle even the most disenchanted readers.