Synopses & Reviews
Based on the folkloric tales told by the widowed author to his motherless brood, this collection of traditional stories first appeared under Charles Perrault's name in the 18th century. In the fine tradition of Aesop, the fables enlighten as well as entertain, imparting practical moral advice. This dual-language edition features accurate new English translations on the pages facing the original French, in addition to an informative introduction and annotations. It opens with a trio of tales in verse: "Grisélidis," the legend of a patient wife, derived from Boccaccio's Decameron; "Peau d'Ane" ("Donkey-Skin"), the story of a beauty in disguise; and a familiar farce known as "Les souhaits ridicules" ("The Ludicrous Wishes"). Well-known and much-loved prose tales follow: "Sleeping Beauty," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Puss in Boots," "Cinderella," and others. This is the most complete edition available in English, comprising the verse tales as well as those in prose, plus all the original prefaces, letters, introductions, morals, and more. Any student of French language or literature will welcome this comprehensive edition.
Synopsis
In the tradition of Aesop, the fables in this entertaining collection also impart practical, moral advice. Included are a trio of tales in verse as well as prose favorites such as "Sleeping Beauty," and "Little Red Riding Hood." English translations appear on pages facing the original French. The most complete edition available in English.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Contes en vers / Verse Tales
Préface / Preface
Grisélidis / Griselidis
A Mademoiselle / To Mademoiselle
Grisélidis: Nouvelle / Griselidis: A Novella
"A Monsieur en lui envoyant Grisélidis / To Monsieur, with a Copy of "Griselidis" "
Peau d'Ane / Donkey-Skin
A Madame la marquise de L / To the Marquise de L
Peau d'Ane / Donkey-Skin
Les souhaits ridicules / The Ludicrous Wishes
A Mademoiselle de la C / To Mademoiselle de la C
Les souhaits ridicules / The Ludicrous Wishes
Histoires ou Contes de temps passé / Stories or Tales of Olden Days [Prose Tales]
A Mademoiselle / To Mademoiselle
La belle au bois dormant / The Beauty in the Sleeping Forest [Sleeping Beauty]
Le Petit Chaperon Rouge / Little Red Hood [Little Red Riding Hood]
La Barbe-Bleue / Bluebeard
"Le Maître Chat ou Le Chat Botté / The Capable Cat; or, Puss in Boots"
Les fées / The Fairies
"Cendrillon ou La petite pantoufle de verre / Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper"
Riquet à la Houppe / Riquet-with-the-Tuft
Le Petit Poucet / Little Thumbling [Tom Thumb]
"Annexe: "Peau d'Ane" en prose / Appendix: Prose Version of "Donkey-Skin"
"Peau d'Ane" en prose (1781) / "Donkey-Skin" in Prose (1781)"