An illustrated collection of eleven classic tales including such favorites as The Little Red Hen, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.
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Jul 02, 2011
David
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In addition to the usual list of difficulties encountered when learning any foreign language, French has a few specific wrinkles of its own. In particular, there are certain verb tenses that have fallen into disuse, so that they are no longer used when speaking, but may still be encountered in written French, particularly in older texts.
Most intermediate French students will have seen at least one of these, the so-called "simple past tense", or passé simple. Although it has b More...
Most intermediate French students will have seen at least one of these, the so-called "simple past tense", or passé simple. Although it has b More...
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Sep 11, 2011
Muphyn
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Not having read any of Perrault's fairytales before, I didn't quite realise what I was in for... And people say that Grimm's fairytales are gruesome - huh, think again and read Perrault's!
There's an ogre appearing in about almost every single one of the eight tales in this edition, and, of course, they love eating fresh flesh (i.e. little people) and do so without delay. Yet in a strange way, I found these tales delightful and just so different to the Grimm's; in fact, they made me l More...
There's an ogre appearing in about almost every single one of the eight tales in this edition, and, of course, they love eating fresh flesh (i.e. little people) and do so without delay. Yet in a strange way, I found these tales delightful and just so different to the Grimm's; in fact, they made me l More...
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Dec 28, 2010
Petra X
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When I was very young, my grandmother had a set of very small books with uncut pages. One of the books was an early edition of Charles Perrault's fairy tales with hand-printed woodblock prints. Naturally I cut the pages and read the stories which were bloody and didn't always have nice endings and at least one of the ugly sisters tumbled into a well to be devoured by snakes. These stories, before Disney got them, were wonderful. Children like blood and guts as much as they like marshmallows a
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Jul 24, 2011
Sarah
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This book was a bit of a struggle, however, it was enjoyable.
At the beginning you need to get through the preface, introduction, translation notes and more, it made me feel this was a study into Charles rather than an enjoyable book to read, I consider it more of a theses than a story. That said, Christopher Betts is extremely knowledgeable about Mr Perrault and does go into a lot of detail setting the scene, explaining the history and also looking at Charles's life, seeing how these came More...
At the beginning you need to get through the preface, introduction, translation notes and more, it made me feel this was a study into Charles rather than an enjoyable book to read, I consider it more of a theses than a story. That said, Christopher Betts is extremely knowledgeable about Mr Perrault and does go into a lot of detail setting the scene, explaining the history and also looking at Charles's life, seeing how these came More...
Aug 15, 2011
Chris
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When you hear fairy tales, what first comes into your mind? Most probably like anybody else, you would associate it with princesses yearning for true love and godmothers or fairies helping them to achieve that. While most fairy tales do have such plot, it is not all true. In this translation of Perrault’s eight beloved classic (the original was written in French), you will see for yourself that there’s more to ‘fairy tales’ than what its name suggests.
Perrault’s Fairy Tales contains More...
Perrault’s Fairy Tales contains More...
Oct 08, 2010
Tamsen
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Hilarious. Completely hilarious. I especially loved how the version of the book I had mentioned the history of each fairy tale. It was neat to read that this was the first published book of fairy tales in 1697, and that Perrault was writing for a very jaded French court. Perrault is a wry, sarcastic bastard with a pretty sick/imaginative mind (depending on the fairy tale). I also enjoyed his moral poems at the end of each tale. My favorite moral was for Hop O' My Thumb:
"Boys whoMore...
Oct 22, 2011
Kate
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This was the first time I read any of Perrault's fairy tales and I really enjoyed them. They tale's themselves are not very long and so I finished this book in a day. The are written in easily understandable english with the exception of a few seldom words. The picture in the book are lovely they depict a place in time that makes the stories easier to imagen in your head. So all in all I really liked this book, however I would suggest that if your looking for a book to read to your childeren and
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Jul 07, 2011
Letteratura
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Tous les contes qui ont berceau presque tout le monde, tant à l’école qu’à la maison. Il y a Le Petit Chapeau Roue, La Barbe Bleue, Le Chat Botté, Les Fées, Cendrillon, Le Petit Poucet. C’était un pur moment de pouvoir se remémorer tous les instants de ces contes que tous le monde connait presque par cœur, surtout pour l’intrigue.
Dans ces contes, l’écriture est fluide, et aucun mot inconnu arrête notre lecture si douce et si enfantine. Je vous conseille de lire ces contes pour seulement v More...
Dans ces contes, l’écriture est fluide, et aucun mot inconnu arrête notre lecture si douce et si enfantine. Je vous conseille de lire ces contes pour seulement v More...
Jun 19, 2011
Aurelie
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This book is one of my favorite book from my childhood : Charles Perrault's stories are some of the most famous fairy tales known, and especially in France, where it's a must-read for children.
I own the french version of this book, which contains eight fairy tales : Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Bluebeard, Puss in Boots, Diamonds and Toads, Cinderella, Riquet with the Tuft and Hop o' My Thumb.
Like in most fairy tales, the characters are heavily stereotyped (the swe More...
I own the french version of this book, which contains eight fairy tales : Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Bluebeard, Puss in Boots, Diamonds and Toads, Cinderella, Riquet with the Tuft and Hop o' My Thumb.
Like in most fairy tales, the characters are heavily stereotyped (the swe More...
Mar 07, 2011
Rhys
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This was a disappointing book, but that isn't the fault of Angela Carter... I've wanted to read Carter for a long time, ever since a writer I admire recommended her to me. Unfortunately I chose the wrong Carter to begin with. That's because this book isn't really Carter at all, but her own adjusted translations of a set of fairy tales written by Charles Perrault.
I've never really been a fan of fairy tales, and I didn't even enjoy Calvino's collection of Italian folk tales (and Calvin More...
I've never really been a fan of fairy tales, and I didn't even enjoy Calvino's collection of Italian folk tales (and Calvin More...
Feb 28, 2010
Jana
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During my Uni years they said, read Perrault, think about politically correct fairytale. So most of my childhood memories have been ruined. It really is true. Every time now when I think about Little Red Riding Hood, I think about her period and about rape. And I do think people don't give enough credit to Perrault, like at all. He is never quoted as being one of the most important writers in this field. He's always in the shadow, with Anderson and Grimms being in the spotlight.
Sep 18, 2010
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
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I actually read these while I was in France, but I reread a couple of them this week while my online group was discussing them. The online discussion reminded me how dark these stories were, full of violence and terror and unpredictability. The things we face in life, in other words. The things we seek out in books.
Mar 30, 2009
Min
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An amazing book filled with the "usual" fairy tales. But the Gustave Dore illustrations make it totally worth the purchase. The print is a little big though. But I suppose that was done because the Dore illustrations are a full page each. Though the stories are familiar, and okay for children, I doubt they'd enjoy the Dore wood cuttings. The are, of course, without color and can be kind of creepy. Which is why I like them.
Feb 01, 2012
Kate
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 15, 2011
Maude
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This it different. The legend of sleepy hollow would fit in perfectly. It isn't your average fairy tale book. I liked it a lot. Not just little talking chipmunks that save the day. Not saying I have anything against little talking chipmunks that save the day. My favorite was beauty and the beast.
Mar 26, 2011
I want to get this super-pretty version: 
I'd also like to get the dual-language version: The Fairy Tales in Verse and Prose/Les contes en vers et en prose: A Dual-Language Book
Apparently the Angela Carter version is well worth reading too:
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I'd also like to get the dual-language version: The Fairy Tales in Verse and Prose/Les contes en vers et en prose: A Dual-Language Book
Apparently the Angela Carter version is well worth reading too:
More...
Jul 10, 2011
Quentin
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Ce livre m'a replongé dans les contes de mon enfance, et c'est avec plaisir que l'on retrouve le Petit Chaperon rouge ou le Chat botté... Les morales sont aussi intéressantes, et plus originales que je ne le pensais. Cependant l'histoire reste simple, peu profonde et parfois confuse.
Jan 29, 2011
Mishou
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A very sweet and well written book with amazing art and great morals pulled from the tales. An amzing read for anyone who loves classic tales told in their true form including adorable little poetic paragraphs. ♥
Oct 11, 2011
Shelby
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This volume actually contained a fairy tale I'd never read before, which was a nice surprise. It also contained some amazingly entertaining illustrations.
Oct 09, 2011
Fiona
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This was fascinating. I only really read it because of its connections with the Rennes-le-Chateau mystery and Le Serpent Rouge, but enjoyed it nontheless.
Aug 06, 2011
The Bluebeard tale was for sure my favorite, although there are other good stories as well. I can't wait to read this in its original French.
Jul 21, 2010
All of Perraults read. His name is lesser known although he wrote a few famous ones, that are widely known today
Oct 13, 2011
F.T.
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The stories are beautiful enough, but the Dore illustrations are breathtaking...
Nov 07, 2007
Rose
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I love this book. It was and still is my favorite fairy tale book ever! Beautifully illustrated! It's a bit scarier than most fairy tale books. This one has "puss in boots", "blue-beard", "The sleeping beauty in the wood", "little red riding hood", "the fairies", "cinderella", "ricky of the tuft", and "little tom thumb". The one thing that I remember was a constant in this book was that little children were always th
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Feb 22, 2010
Alexis
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I am working through this book slowly, and it's greatly helping me with my French! It was a sweet gift from someone that read it growing up. I highly recommend this to people who are at an intermediate level to push themselves to learn. The stories are short and in fairly simple form, but in finishing there is a sense of accomplishment. Plus, it's very interesting to see the original, or I suppose the moralized version of these stories, which are very different from the versions I heard growing
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Jul 17, 2009
flajol
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I love fairy tales and reworkings of fairy tales, and sometimes it's good to get back to basics. Here Angela Carter presents her translations of Charles Perrault's fairy tales. There's a good introduction by Jack Zipes too, detailing the backgrounds of both Perrault and Carter, and illustrating how Carter's own agenda and beliefs suffuse the translations.
Jul 05, 2009
Meidhita
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Tentunya saya membaca buku versi bahasa Indonesia. Sangat menyentuh karena yang dikisahkan lebih dari dongeng pada umumnya. Misalnya ada dongeng tentang kelanjutan kisah cinderella, dsb. Intinya, gak melulu soal happy ever after. Belakangan saya banyak menemukan novel yang genre nya serupa. Hmm, menarik buat penggemar bacaan anak dan remaja seperti diriku!
Sep 21, 2009
Amy or "Ames"
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This is a brilliant book, with amazing but terrifying engravings by Dore. This edition of Perrault's fairy tales also include morals which read like rhyming verse, my favourite was the LRRH moral. This book is well worth the money if you are interested in fairy tales and the associated illustrations.
Aug 03, 2008
Shoshana
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Definitely interesting to see. But folktales often seem to be good frameworks for stories, rather than good stories in themselves. It would be interesting to write versions of these stories that really explored the characters, as people have done for some of them.
