The earlier original stories of three young women - three of the OG Princesses, well-known and loved in modern times - had their stories abridged, modified, and rewritten countless times throughout the centuries.
Discover the lesser known, earliest versions of the tales that became the foundations for Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Beauty and the Beast.
Reader beware, though - this book is not for light bedtime reading for children. Some events and descriptions in these 17th and 18th century stories will certainly be shocking to the modern reader.
- This edition includes the complete, unabridged version of The Story of Beauty and The Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. Although lengthy by fairy tale standards, this novella contains rich subplots and backstories of Beast, Beauty, and the busy bee fairies.
- In Persinette, written by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force, a naive gold-locked girl brought up in complete seclusion is utterly ignorant about matters of life and love.
- You will understand why the horrifying tale of Talia differs so much today from Giambattista Basile's version.