Fairy Tales
A New History
📘 About This Book
2009 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Where did Cinderella come from? Puss in Boots? Rapunzel? The origins of fairy tales are looked at in a new way in these highly engaging pages. Conventional wisdom holds that fairy tales originated in the oral traditions of peasants and were recorded for posterity by the Brothers Grimm during the nineteenth century. Ruth B. Bottigheimer overturns this view in a lively account of the origins of these well-loved stories. Charles Perrault created Cinderella and her fairy godmother, but no countrywoman whispered this tale into Perrault's ear. Instead, his Cinderella appeared only after he had edited it from the book of often amoral tales published by Giambattista Basile in Naples. Distinguishing fairy tales from folktales and showing the influence of the medieval romance on them, Bottigheimer documents how fairy tales originated as urban writing for urban readers and listeners. Working backward from the Grimms to the earliest known sixteenth-century fairy tales of the Italian Renaissance, Bottigheimer argues for a book-based history of fairy tales. The first new approach to fairy tale history in decades, this book answers questions about where fairy tales came from and how they spread, illuminating a narrative process long veiled by surmise and assumption.
📖 Summary
Ruth B. Bottigheimer’s insightful book Fairy Tales, published in 2010 and recognized as a Choice Outstanding Academic Title, challenges long-held beliefs regarding the true origins of our most cherished magical stories. For generations, conventional wisdom has maintained that timeless fairy tales like Cinderella, Puss in Boots, and Rapunzel originated deep within the oral traditions of European peasants, passed down informally through generations before being captured for posterity by the Brothers Grimm during the nineteenth century. Bottigheimer completely overturns this traditional view, offering readers a lively, engaging, and meticulously researched account that traces the actual literary roots of these well-loved narratives. Rather than springing from whispering countrywomen and ancient folklore, many iconic elements of the fairy tale genre were crafted by specific literary figures who edited, transformed, and invented key components. To demonstrate this paradigm shift, Bottigheimer examines the specific provenance of famous characters and plots. For instance, she points out that Charles Perrault did not merely transcribe a peasant story when he wrote about Cinderella and her iconic fairy godmother; no countrywoman ever whispered that specific tale into Perrault's ear. Instead, Perrault's version of Cinderella emerged only after he meticulously edited and adapted stories from an earlier book of often amoral tales published by Giambattista Basile in Naples. By carefully distinguishing true literary fairy tales from broader folkloric traditions, Bottigheimer highlights how print culture, authorial intent, and literary modification shaped the genre from its early modern foundations. Spanning 163 engaging pages, the book guides readers through the complex historical web of how tales traveled across borders and changed forms through the hands of literate authors rather than illiterate storytellers. Bottigheimer analyzes the influences that molded these stories into the moral and cultural touchstones recognized today, forcing readers to rethink the romanticized notion of the humble fireside storyteller. Instead, the book reveals a fascinating history of publishing, adaptation, and literary creation. By dismantling the peasant-origin myth, Bottigheimer provides a fresh perspective that revitalizes the study of children's literature and folklore. Scholars, students, and curious readers alike will find themselves captivated by this compelling argument, which reframes familiar stories through the lens of critical literary history and challenges everything we thought we knew about how fairy tales came to be.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Challenges conventional historical narratives with fresh perspectives.
Written in a highly engaging and lively style.
Offers rigorous academic research combined with accessible prose.
Recognized as a Choice Outstanding Academic Title.
⚠️ Cons
May challenge deeply held nostalgic beliefs about folklore.
Short page count might leave readers wanting more deep dives into specific minor tales.
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of Fairy Tales? +
The book is written by Ruth B. Bottigheimer.
When was this book published? +
It was published in 2010.
What is the main argument of the book? +
It argues that fairy tales originated from literary authors rather than peasant oral traditions.
How does the book address Cinderella? +
It shows that Charles Perrault created his Cinderella by editing tales from Giambattista Basile rather than listening to peasants.
How many pages long is the book? +
The book spans 163 pages.
