The Classic Fairy Tales [Norton Critical Edition]

This book is so entertaining and revolutionary in how educational it is too. I haven't read the first edition, so I don't know how they compare, but the essays in this are so informative and interesting and really show how fairy tales and folk tales are such ubiquitous features of our culture, while also managing to deeply exploring the subtle undertones they have psychologically. For instance, I couldn't stop thinking about the way these tales were probably one of the first introductions girls had to the their possible future realities as I read through all the 'Beauty and the Beast' tales, and it definitely affected how I experienced them, which I think is for the better.

Plus, all the earlier versions of the tales shared are totally show more bonkers. Like, beyond bizarre, which is explained by how the OG fairy tales weren't meant as morals or lessons for kids, they were created to entertain adults during busy workdays (or just noble aristocrats for the readers of Charles Perrault).

Maria Tatar has also included a wide variety of cultures for each collection, so you really get the experience of how these tales are totally independent of each other and in different locations and times with different characters, and yet are so similar in composition. For instance, there's 'little red riding hood,' but there's also 'Tsélane and the Marimo' and 'The Tiger Woman' and all these other diverse versions of the narratives. With the explanatory essays to help, it's super interesting to see how everything ties together. It's almost... magical.

If you want to dive into the more academic side of fairy tales, or just want some weird reads that aren't in any of the larger collections like the Grimm's, Perrault's, or Andrew Lang's, then you should definitely give this a try; there are plenty of cheap online versions out there too, but the introductions to all the popular tale types included here (Bluebeard, Cinderella, Tricksters, etc.) really enhance the experience, so double win! show less

The Classic Fairy Tales which has been edited by Maria Tatar is quite an extraordinary read which I found fascinating and helpful, cover to cover. It is a collection of fairy tales which most of us are familiar with on one level or another. Maria Tartar has covered Little Red Riding Hood, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Cinderella, Bluebeard, Hansel and Gretel, and given us a good introduction to the works of Hans Christian Anderson and Oscar Wild. Each section of this work, and indeed each of the fairy tales noted here comprise an entire section, is accompanied by a scholarly introduction which is quite readable and very informative.
The author has, in each case, given us a fare selection of the variations of each of these tales as show more presented by different cultures throughout the world and different eras. This work is well researched, and I say this not lightly. I am modestly familiar with this particular genre, its history and its place in the pantheon of our literature…the author has done her work well. Not only do we get an accurate rendition of the original tale (as close to original as we probably ever will get, as many of these tales received their origin so far back into the mist of time, that it would be impossible to be absolutely accurate as many of them began strictly through oral tradition), but the author has in several cases given us a more modern version of the tale from a feminist view point.

If we take the story of Cinderella, we find that over the past several hundred years that there have been literally hundreds of versions of this classic myth. Tatar has given us a good sampling; not all inclusive, I grant you, but good never the less. The comparisons are stark, well presented and do indeed give us a wonderful overview. I also appreciated the authors various and many comments as to the impact Disney has had on these timeless stories.

This is a very readable book. It can be read cover to cover (which I feel is best), or can be used to research and edify specific stories that the reader might be interested in specifically. Reader be warned though, some of these stories are absolutely grim and a far cry from the diluted and sanitized nursery stories we are now fed. I have always felt that the Brother Grimm, were…well grim, but I find that their rendition of these old stories were far and away more civil than the originals that they made their compilation from. The Brothers actually dropped much of the gore, sex and taboos such as incest, rape and sheer butchering from their versions.

This is a very good and very informative read and a must for anyone interested in the classic fairy tale. Like any such work though, the reader should not stop with just this work, but continue and consider the opinion of other scholars in this field.

On the other hand, and this is just a personal observation, for what it is worth, some times a good cigar is just that; a good cigar. Likewise, sometimes a good story is just that; a good story. I always try not to loose sight of that fact. show less

classic norton edition, in that the actual stories and editorial notes are fantastic, but the critical essays in the second part are just too dry.

Tatar takes examples from some of the biggest fairytale archetypes and compares them to similar tales from around the world to showcase common themes and tropes. Definitely a good introduction for those unaware to the academic world of fairytales, and the criticism essays were well chosen. The only drawback for this novel is the uneven distribution of how closely some stories are given connections and others merely assumed. For example, including the modern and feminist "Bluebeard's Egg" by Margaret Atwood in the Bluebeard category seemed a farther stretch than the Hansel and Gretel chapter, which had two versions from the Grimms placed in it instead. But overall a strongly recommended work.

An excellent collection of basic fairy tales and fairy tale criticism. I appreciate Tatar's inclusion of fairy tale permutations from around the world, along side more recent literary versions. This would be an excellent introduction to the study of fairy tales, as Tatar give extensive analyzing/explanation of the tales, and includes scholarly essays that form the foundation of this field of study.

I had to read this book for my Monsters and Fairy Tales class. I thought that all of these stories were very interesting!!! The introductions on each fairy tale gave great insight into the themes and origins of each Fairy Tale. Also, the essays in the back were very helpful to me!