A Companion to the Fairy Tale - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1843840812 ISBN 13: 9781843840817

Publisher: D.S.Brewer, 2006

Synopsis

Offers an excellent introduction to the work currently and historically being done on fairy tales by folk-lorists. MEDIEVAL REVIEW Introduction by Derek Brewer. This book discusses the characteristics of the traditional fairy tale in Europe and North America, and various theories of its development and interpretation. The book deals with the main collections - the Grimm brothers, Hans Andersen, Perrault and Afanes'ev - and with the development of tales in various regions of Europe, including Ireland, Wales, Scandinavia, Germany and Russia, as well as India, where it was once claimed that they originated. The subject of the fairy tale is a controversial one: problems discussed here include the relationship between tales recorded from story-tellers and literary works, the importance of printed worksfor the spread of the tales, the growth of recent examples with a feminine approach, the spread of popular tales like Cinderella, special types like the cumulative tales, possible effects of TV, and the nature of traditional plots and characters. Above all, the collection is concerned with the distribution and long survival of these tales, and the nature of their appeal. SHORTLISTED FOR THE KATHARINE BRIGGS FOLKLORE AWARD 2004. Contributors: GRAHAM ANDERSON, DAVID BLAMIRES, RUTH BOTTIGHEIMER, DEREK BREWER, MARY BROCKINGTON, ANNA CHAUDHRI, HILDA ELLIS DAVIDSON, ROBIN GWYNDAF, BENGT HOLBEK, DAVID HUNT, REIMUND KVIDELAND, PATRICIA LYSAGHT, NEIL PHILIP, JAMES RIORDAN, PAT SCHAEFER, TOM SHIPPEY, JOYCE THOMAS.

About this title

Review

This latest collection of fine essays brings a new dimension to the existing body of recent scholarship. [...] This collection of essays truly enhances what we already know about the phenomenon of fairy tales by tackling core issues raised by the exploration of the genre, and by suggesting new perspectives and insights based on amazingly rich global research. STUDIES IN MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE TEACHING
Sometimes refreshingly inventive, sometimes simply confirming the well known, but, in its personal refractions, always stimulating, even for the cognoscenti. FABULA
Once upon a time, there was a clever, nuanced book. THE FORTEAN TIMES
A remarkable store of incisive commentary, a wise review of relevant primary and secondary literature, a reminder to folklorists and readers alike of how varied this field is, and at the price a real bargain. REFERENCE REVIEWS
Deploy[s] a detailed knowledge of publishing histories in the western world to give a fascinatingly fresh understanding of the lively interpretation of oral, literary and commercial traditions. SCHOOL LIBRARIAN JOURNAL
Offers an excellent introduction to the work currently and historically being done on fairy tales by folk-lorists. MEDIEVAL REVIEW
[A] collection to be greatly welcomed, as it brings together a diversity of material and discourse concerning the meaning of 'the fairy tale'.... Allows for a variety of viewpoints to be explored and the result is a deepening and a widening of knowledge and insight into this most eternal of art forms. BÉALOIDEAS

Synopsis

This book discusses the characteristics of the traditional fairy tale in Europe and North America, and various theories of its development and interpretation. The book deals with the main collections - the Grimm brothers, Hans Andersen, Perrault and Afanes'ev - and with the development of tales in various regions of Europe, including Ireland, Wales, Scandinavia, Germany and Russia, as well as India, where it was once claimed that they originated. The subject of the fairy tale is a controversial one: problems discussed here include the relationship between tales recorded from story-tellers and literary works, the importance of printed works for the spread of the tales, the growth of recent examples with a feminine approach, the spread of popular tales like 'Cinderella', special types like the cumulative tales, possible effects of TV, and the nature of traditional plots and characters. Above all, the collection is concerned with the distribution and long survival of these tales, and the nature of their appeal. SHORTLISTED FOR THE KATHARINE BRIGGS FOLKLORE AWARD 2004.Contributors: GRAHAM ANDERSON, DAVID BLAMIRES, RUTH BOTTIGHEIMER, DEREK BREWER, MARY BROCKINGTON, ANNA CHAUDHRI, HILDA ELLIS DAVIDSON, ROBIN GWYNDAF, BENGT HOLBEK, DAVID HUNT, REIMUND KVIDELAND, PATRICIA LYSAGHT, NEIL PHILIP, JAMES RIORDAN, PAT SCHAEFER, TOM SHIPPEY, JOYCE THOMAS.

Edition details

• Publisher: D.S.Brewer
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1843840812
• ISBN 13: 9781843840817
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 302
• Editor: Davidson Hilda R Ellis, Chaudhri Anna