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Beauty And The Beast
このコンテンツは日本国内ではパブリックドメインの作品です。印刷版からデジタル版への変換はボランティアによって行われたものです。
28 pages, Paperback
Published June 3, 2008
7 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve
103 books82 followersGabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, French author (c. 1695-Paris, 1755). She is considered the original author of the story of Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la Bête) which is the oldest known variants of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.
First published in La jeune ameriquaine, et les contes marins, it is over a hundred pages long, containing many subplots, and involving a genuinely savage Beast, not merely a beastly facade.
Her lengthy version was later rewritten, shortened and published by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, to produce the sensually toned down version most commonly retold today.
In 1767 she wrote the novel, La Jardinière de Vincennes. She was a close friend of the controversial writer Claude Jolyot de Crébillon.
First published in La jeune ameriquaine, et les contes marins, it is over a hundred pages long, containing many subplots, and involving a genuinely savage Beast, not merely a beastly facade.
Her lengthy version was later rewritten, shortened and published by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, to produce the sensually toned down version most commonly retold today.
In 1767 she wrote the novel, La Jardinière de Vincennes. She was a close friend of the controversial writer Claude Jolyot de Crébillon.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 7, 2013
Although this is a very short "book" (I would consider it more like a pamphlet), it was still wonderful. However, after finding out that this is a condensed version of the original story, I'm now on a quest to find the original.
February 19, 2021
Honestly the Only bad thing about this was that it was Waaay too short!!! I want More!!!!!!
October 29, 2024
I'm unsure if the version featured in this page is the one I read. The version was written by Madame de Villeneuve but it had 108 pages. In any case, I'll just leave this review here.
I find the original version of Beauty and the Beast much better than the contorted version of Disney. The Beast is actually kind and intelligent and likeable but is cursed into his hideous shape by his virtual foster mother with pseudo-incestuous tendencies. He is forced to act dull-witted so as not to charm a woman with his looks or wit.
There is no imprisonment of the father in this version. The father is a merchant instead of a hazardous inventor. The father, indeed, does get lost but the Beast offers him a place to spend the night and food, and in the morning when he tries to pick up a rose in the garden does the Beast "get angry" and strike up a deal with him to bring his daughter. The caveat is that the father must not mince his words in describing how hideous and vile the Beast is and the girl must still come willingly. All of it is part of the curse and the plot to undo the curse, not just the Beast acting like an aggressive jerk.
The Beast is allowed to appear in the Beauty's dreams as he is in reality but isn't allowed to tell her it is him she dreams of and as such there is a bit of a "love triangle" between the Prince in her dreams, the Beast and Beauty. I suppose there may be a lesson there.
It is, shall I say, very French in how it depicts the romance between the Beast and Beauty. It is a bit similar to Erec and Enide by Chrétien de Troyes in that everything else in their life seems to fall wayside in their love for each other. The plot of the original is also set off by a woman (the fairy foster mother of the Prince) and is resolved by the machinations of a woman. The Prince's mother is a queen locked away in a war but that happens in the background. So if women doing things is your cup of tea you may or may not like this.
Also, the Prince and Beauty turn out to be cousins so if that isn't your thing you may want to give this one a pass. This review was quite long but I hope it is helpful to someone!
I wrote another review: here.
I find the original version of Beauty and the Beast much better than the contorted version of Disney. The Beast is actually kind and intelligent and likeable but is cursed into his hideous shape by his virtual foster mother with pseudo-incestuous tendencies. He is forced to act dull-witted so as not to charm a woman with his looks or wit.
There is no imprisonment of the father in this version. The father is a merchant instead of a hazardous inventor. The father, indeed, does get lost but the Beast offers him a place to spend the night and food, and in the morning when he tries to pick up a rose in the garden does the Beast "get angry" and strike up a deal with him to bring his daughter. The caveat is that the father must not mince his words in describing how hideous and vile the Beast is and the girl must still come willingly. All of it is part of the curse and the plot to undo the curse, not just the Beast acting like an aggressive jerk.
The Beast is allowed to appear in the Beauty's dreams as he is in reality but isn't allowed to tell her it is him she dreams of and as such there is a bit of a "love triangle" between the Prince in her dreams, the Beast and Beauty. I suppose there may be a lesson there.
It is, shall I say, very French in how it depicts the romance between the Beast and Beauty. It is a bit similar to Erec and Enide by Chrétien de Troyes in that everything else in their life seems to fall wayside in their love for each other. The plot of the original is also set off by a woman (the fairy foster mother of the Prince) and is resolved by the machinations of a woman. The Prince's mother is a queen locked away in a war but that happens in the background. So if women doing things is your cup of tea you may or may not like this.
Also, the Prince and Beauty turn out to be cousins so if that isn't your thing you may want to give this one a pass. This review was quite long but I hope it is helpful to someone!
I wrote another review: here.
May 24, 2018
“She bade us remember that it was cowardice to succumb to the greatest misfortunes, and that with time and courage there was no evil that could not be remedied.”
I picked this one up with no Disney expectations in mind. I was simply looking for the real telling of Beauty and the Beast. It was fun to read since Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales (thanks to Disney) and thankfully it was not tragic. Look forward to reading the rest of the original fairy tales.
April 9, 2018
It was a joy to rediscover this story after having been for years told the story by Disney. The gist is there but this original story is powerful in its own way. A classic for years to come.
April 5, 2025
I don’t know if I’m just an idiot, but I found this hard to read. Written like Shakespeare. Hella hard to stay focused on the story and not space out. Was however a good read! Way different than what Disney made of it.
September 29, 2017
I came to read this as the Disney film is one of my favourites, but the book has a lot of differences.
There is a lot more information about both Beauty and the Beast's backstory: how he came to be cursed, what happened to Beauty's mother as well as in interesting subplot about warring Fairies. Unfortunately this is all given in one colossal info dump after the main story (the Beast turns back into the Prince less than half way through the novel), and I will admit, I fell asleep while reading it. interesting, but it did take a loooooong time to get there. It also suffered because everyone was either just called The Prince, or The Fairy or The Queen despite the fact there were half a dozen Fairies and two Queens. It was somewhat confusing.
It's also worth noting that this was written in the 18th century, I think, and was intended to prepare young women who were about to head off on an arranged marriage. An assurance that despite what it might look like, I'm sure your husband isn't a horrible brute that will make your life miserable in exchange for your father getting some decent arable land. It is not the most feminist forward book there is. Beauty's virtues are all based on how beautiful, dutiful and docile she is rather than being, you know, an interesting person in her own right.
There's also a rather confused message about rank in there. SPOILER ALERT but there's a whole scene after the transformation where the Prince's mother says Beauty can't marry her son, everyone says she is virtuous enough that it doesn't matter, and then in turns out she's actually a Princess. So... not sure what that was trying to achieve there.
In short, I'm glad I read the original, but I'll stick to the modern retellings I think.
There is a lot more information about both Beauty and the Beast's backstory: how he came to be cursed, what happened to Beauty's mother as well as in interesting subplot about warring Fairies. Unfortunately this is all given in one colossal info dump after the main story (the Beast turns back into the Prince less than half way through the novel), and I will admit, I fell asleep while reading it. interesting, but it did take a loooooong time to get there. It also suffered because everyone was either just called The Prince, or The Fairy or The Queen despite the fact there were half a dozen Fairies and two Queens. It was somewhat confusing.
It's also worth noting that this was written in the 18th century, I think, and was intended to prepare young women who were about to head off on an arranged marriage. An assurance that despite what it might look like, I'm sure your husband isn't a horrible brute that will make your life miserable in exchange for your father getting some decent arable land. It is not the most feminist forward book there is. Beauty's virtues are all based on how beautiful, dutiful and docile she is rather than being, you know, an interesting person in her own right.
There's also a rather confused message about rank in there. SPOILER ALERT but there's a whole scene after the transformation where the Prince's mother says Beauty can't marry her son, everyone says she is virtuous enough that it doesn't matter, and then in turns out she's actually a Princess. So... not sure what that was trying to achieve there.
In short, I'm glad I read the original, but I'll stick to the modern retellings I think.
May 31, 2017
Just finished this classic romance and it very much holds up. An amazing story of a young brave woman who takes on the task of saving her father from a hideous Beast when her siblings blame her for their father's fate.
Reasons I Recommend:
1) Beauty is a brave young woman who takes to her fate with optimism and refusing to be afraid of what is in store for her
2) The dreams she had of the handsome man who loves her adds a touch of romance and sadness to the story - is the man real or entirely in her mind
And 3) the intricacies behind the curse are years in the making and it is a wonderful story to behold
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#lovetoread #bibliophile #recommendedbybrie #briefave #briereads #bookstagram #romance #classic #beautyandthebeast #gabriellesuzannebarbotdevilleneuve #fairytale
Reasons I Recommend:
1) Beauty is a brave young woman who takes to her fate with optimism and refusing to be afraid of what is in store for her
2) The dreams she had of the handsome man who loves her adds a touch of romance and sadness to the story - is the man real or entirely in her mind
And 3) the intricacies behind the curse are years in the making and it is a wonderful story to behold
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#lovetoread #bibliophile #recommendedbybrie #briefave #briereads #bookstagram #romance #classic #beautyandthebeast #gabriellesuzannebarbotdevilleneuve #fairytale
June 10, 2020
Listened to on Audio
I was ok nothing bad but nothing overly great a bit preachy about how wonderful, beautiful, kind and smart Beauty was. I also really shoved how horrid her sister but it was just a rather typical fairytale
I was ok nothing bad but nothing overly great a bit preachy about how wonderful, beautiful, kind and smart Beauty was. I also really shoved how horrid her sister but it was just a rather typical fairytale
October 7, 2018
This is a timeless classic for children to read. Any age of students would enjoy it and could learn something new each time they read it. I would read this to my students to have them learn about what kind of person they should be.
April 12, 2022
This one is the original version of the tale, but I'd have to say I prefer the Disney version a lot more. This version has too much of a one-person narrative, and it kinda sucks the magic out of the story. Disney Beauty is a favorite heroine of mine.
October 14, 2023
Ngl, I actually liked the Beaumont version of this fairytale a little better and I can't and won't pretend I didn't, but this was exactly the way fairytales should go at their most classic (in my opinion) and I appreciate that so much.
May 5, 2017
Compared to the Disney Beauty and the Beast, I like Disney better. It just wasn't what I expected. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great.
October 26, 2017
I had watched the movie before reading the story. The movie is worth watching . I love this story.
August 28, 2020
Completely different than the Disney versions! Glad I read the very brief original story.
April 5, 2021
Je suis contente d'avoir ce classique. Différents des interprétations qu'on en a fait mais tout aussi riche.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews