The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

29021

Title

The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A classic collection of timeless fairy tales by Charles Perrault, featuring beloved stories like Cinderella, Puss in Boots, and Blue Beard. With elegant illustrations and an engaging introduction, this volume offers a charming glimpse into 17th-century folklore, blending moral lessons with magical wonder for readers of all ages.

Summary up to 500 words

Charles Perrault's *The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault* stands as a seminal collection of French folklore that balances entertainment with ethical instruction, reflecting the cultural values of the seventeenth century while maintaining universal appeal. The anthology features clever protagonists, magical transformations, and complex moral lessons. In *Cinderella*, a kind-hearted girl endures the cruelty of her stepmother and jealous sisters, finding solace only in her chimney-corner. Her transformation is facilitated by a Fairy godmother who turns a pumpkin into a coach and mice into horses, granting her entry to a royal ball. Despite the Prince's admiration, she flees before midnight, leaving behind a glass slipper that ultimately identifies her as the true princess. *Puss in Boots* showcases a cunning cat who uses wit rather than brute strength to secure a vast fortune for his impoverished master, demonstrating that intelligence can triumph over status. *Blue Beard* serves as a stark warning against curiosity and greed, illustrating the dangers of trespassing into forbidden realms. In *Donkey-Skin*, a humble girl, disguised in a donkey skin to serve as a farmhand, is revealed to be a princess when a ring accidentally baked into a cake she makes for the Prince fits her finger perfectly. The Prince, who had fallen ill with a fever caused by his unrequited love for her, recovers upon learning her true identity. The collection is further enriched by an introduction detailing Perrault's life, his contributions to architecture and the Academy of Sciences, and his literary debates regarding the ancients versus the moderns. Through these stories, Perrault captures the imagination of his time, offering narratives that are both historically significant and timeless in their exploration of human nature.

LLM editorial rating

4.5/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Fairy Tales