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Fairy Tale Time
208 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1985
9 people want to read
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January 15, 2021
The illustrations are what make this book for me. A classic of my childhood, I would spend ages poring over the different stories and delve into the detailed drawings and watercolours. When I got older, I became curious about the particular fashions and feasts showcased in the book.
The book was originally published by Fratelli Fabbri Editori in 1976, with illustrations provided by a variety of Italian artists. Ah hah! All of a sudden the insane medieval feasts (white peacock on a platter for your wedding feast, anyone?! Thank you, Ferri!) and glorious head gear and miles of draped fabric made so much more sense. Some of the artists definitely took a more ‘70s’ approach to their artwork (the very northern Italian looking Princess in the Frog Prince by Una, the Mucha-esque Little Mermaid and her Art Deco via the disco era environment by Barilli).
Not the Disney classics by any stretch, these fairy tales allow their characters to die or suffer without redemption. The book includes the classic tale of Mother Hölle, with its shower of gold or bath of tar, The Three Little Men in the Woods with their ‘gift’ of snakes and toads and death in a spiked barrel, the unmarked death of the Match Girl frozen in the street... not completely sugar coated though not quite original Grimm or Le Fontaine either!
I am searching for a replacement copy to pass on the next generation (mine is the hardcover Octopus London translation by Jane Carruthers from 79). I’m also on the hunt for Fabri’s other gems, Worlds Greatest Fairytales and ensuing volumes.
Illustrators included: Barilli, Ferri, Lima, Max, Pinardi, Sergio, Uno, Violetto.
The book was originally published by Fratelli Fabbri Editori in 1976, with illustrations provided by a variety of Italian artists. Ah hah! All of a sudden the insane medieval feasts (white peacock on a platter for your wedding feast, anyone?! Thank you, Ferri!) and glorious head gear and miles of draped fabric made so much more sense. Some of the artists definitely took a more ‘70s’ approach to their artwork (the very northern Italian looking Princess in the Frog Prince by Una, the Mucha-esque Little Mermaid and her Art Deco via the disco era environment by Barilli).
Not the Disney classics by any stretch, these fairy tales allow their characters to die or suffer without redemption. The book includes the classic tale of Mother Hölle, with its shower of gold or bath of tar, The Three Little Men in the Woods with their ‘gift’ of snakes and toads and death in a spiked barrel, the unmarked death of the Match Girl frozen in the street... not completely sugar coated though not quite original Grimm or Le Fontaine either!
I am searching for a replacement copy to pass on the next generation (mine is the hardcover Octopus London translation by Jane Carruthers from 79). I’m also on the hunt for Fabri’s other gems, Worlds Greatest Fairytales and ensuing volumes.
Illustrators included: Barilli, Ferri, Lima, Max, Pinardi, Sergio, Uno, Violetto.
Displaying 1 of 1 review