The Beauty and the Beast

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Beauty and the Beast

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

This enchanting eighteenth-century fairy tale explores the transformative power of love and virtue. When a merchant's fortune vanishes, his family faces poverty, yet his youngest daughter, Beauty, remains kind and resilient. Her compassion for the Beast, a cursed prince, breaks a spell and restores her family's happiness, offering a timeless lesson on inner worth over outward appearance.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in a distant land, the story follows a wealthy merchant whose sudden ruin forces his family to flee to a lonely forest. His six daughters are devastated by their loss of status and the departure of their suitors, who vanish with their wealth. The youngest, known as Beauty, stands apart; she possesses a gentle heart, refined taste, and remarkable fortitude, refusing to succumb to despair or vanity. While her sisters lament their plight, Beauty finds joy in simple rural pleasures and consoles her grieving family. Prosperity briefly returns when news arrives of a lost ship, but the merchant discovers the cargo has been stolen. Forced to return home in harsh weather, he becomes stranded in a dark forest. There, he encounters a terrifying Beast who demands his youngest daughter in exchange for his life. Beauty, driven by pity and duty, agrees to the exchange. She arrives at the Beast's castle, where she lives in luxury and develops a deep affection for her monstrous husband, despite his initial silence and gloom. Beauty's kindness eventually softens the Beast, who begins to speak and reveal his sorrowful history. Meanwhile, Beauty experiences vivid dreams featuring a mysterious 'Unknown' youth and a benevolent Fairy Lady. These visions suggest that the Beast is actually a prince under a curse and that Beauty's love is the key to his restoration. The Beast proposes marriage, and Beauty accepts, promising fidelity. Upon their wedding night, Beauty dreams of the Unknown and the Fairy, who confirm that her virtue has triumphed. The next morning, she wakes to find the Unknown beside her, but he remains asleep under a spell. Soon, a royal procession arrives, led by a Fairy Queen and her sister, the Fairy. They reveal that the Beast is indeed the Prince, cursed by a Fairy for his cruelty. Beauty's selfless act of offering herself to save the Prince breaks the enchantment, restoring him to his human form. The Prince, now handsome and grateful, falls deeply in love with Beauty. The Fairy explains that she orchestrated the events to test the Prince's character and to unite him with a woman of true virtue. Beauty's family, including her father and brothers, arrives, having been guided by a magical horse to the palace. The Fairy reveals that Beauty is the Princess of the Happy Island, and her father is the King. The family is reunited, and the Prince and Beauty are united in marriage. The story concludes with the newlyweds ruling their kingdom wisely, aided by magical genii, while maintaining a connection to their humble origins and the family they saved.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/gabrielle-suzanne-barbot-de-villeneuve_beauty-and-the-beast.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-d091bed776f0636e.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-01 01:07 UTC

Categories

• Fairy Tales
• Classic Literature