Transgressive Tales: Queering the Grimms

by Pauline Greenhill (Editor), Kay Turner (Editor), Andrew J Friedenthal (contributor)

Contributors explore alternative readings and queer possibilities of the Grimm brothers Kinder- und Hausmrchen (KHM, Childrens and Household Tales).

Genres: Nonfiction, Fairy Tales, Queer, LGBT, Research, Lesbian, Folklore

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Stu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, indirectly, a good primer on queer theory and a generally admirable set of critiques on aspects of classic fairy tales that do not follow gender norms. The authors have taken pains to consult and cite a good variety of current scholarship, both on queer theory and the Grimms' work. I do have some reservations, though. The editors do not take pains to explain some of the technical nomenclature used here, and this might be frustrating to readers not trained in folkloristics. (For example, the often-used "ATU" stands for "Aarne-Thompson-Uther," a folktale classification system detailed in Hans-Jörg Uther's The Types of International Folktales: A Classification and Bibliography. This is not pointed out to the uninitiated.) Also, some of these critiques stretch the meaning of "queer" perhaps further than they should; many points that the authors render "queer" could just as easily be seen as "feminist." (It bears mentioning that, with the exception of the brief last chapter, every tale analyzed in this compilation has a female protagonist.) This liberal usage of terminology does threaten to dilute the central theme of gender transgression. Nevertheless, the work itself is obviously a labor of love. The chapters are consistently thorough, rigorous, creative, and passionate. This book will be appreciated by anyone interested in deconstructing the Grimms, as well as more general cultural scholars with an interest in queer theory who seek examples in familiar works.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite essay collections on fairy tales, and one that's especially good to read for Pride Month!

[Joanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of folkloristics and queer theory. (All....twenty of us...) Although this book is theory-heavy, it is also moving and enjoyable. If you haven't read a lot of theory, this is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in folkloristics or queer theory. This collection of essays is diverse enough to cover a broad spectrum of issues in both fields, making it a very good primer. In addition, each essay is very well written, each subject being very close to its author's heart. I found myself just as invested in the outcomes many of the essays as I am in the outcomes of stories themselves and my understanding of the tales was deeply enriched by the works of these writers.

However, you probably need to be at least passingly familiar with the works of Althusser and Levi-Strauss to really appreciate these texts. I picked a lot up on the way, but I was definitely glad I had taken a theory class before reading this book. On the other hand, some of these essays helped me understand concepts better than my theory class did. Brush up a little on Althusser's theory of interpellation, grab a dictionary, and get ready to enjoy one of the best works in the field of folkloristics.

[Kerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNFing on page 52. I think I was looking more for an analysis of fairy tales as they exist now (Disneyified) put into historical context and analyzed for how straight-cis-washed and otherwise 'sanitized' they've become. However, this wasn't that. In order to enjoy this, I think you'd either need a deep knowledge of the original Grimm manuscript or to be reading the stories referenced before each chapter. Because I couldn't really engage in the subject matter, I couldn't get invested in the stakes of the theory. Also based on the 1.5 essay I read, this is queer theory not in understanding the way that queerness/disability/race are given meaning but in the way of ... everything that violates any expectations are queer, which is a part of queer theory but not the part I find most interesting.

Not for me (at least right now). Hope it finds readers that enjoy it more.

[Abi (The Knights Who Say Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a lot out of this book. Like any anthology, some chapters aren't as good as others, but there were a few in here that really inspired me and many that introduced me to new tales I hadn't read before. Because it's so academic and I'm still learning about queer theory, some of the chapters seemed a little far-fetched to me — sometimes the academic definition of queer is very broad! But I highly recommend it for avid readers of fairy tales; it'll introduce you to new viewpoints and expand the possible meanings you can get from both the tales it covers and ones you read on your own.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this book, but it fell short with its execution. The author utilized every pretentious term she knew like there was no tomorrow. Great concept, but filled with excessive wordiness.

[Robert Alvarez the Psychic Witch]

I had the pleasure of meeting one of the two co-editors of this book, Kay Turner, on Monday, March 7, 2018, after she led an event about her book, "Beautiful Necessity: The Art and Meaning of Women's Altars."