Customer Reviews

Beautiful Angiola: The Lost Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales of Laura Gonzenbach

5 star:		(1)
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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here the inexhaustible Jack Zipes edits and translates a lesser known, but arguably very important, collection of Sicilian folk and fairy tales. Originally collected and recorded by Laura Gonzenbach in mid-19th century Sicily, these tales provide a different perspective on the folklore of the time and ours today. Zipes argues that this collection is perhaps the most important collection from the time period, even more important than the Grimms' collection. The tales are unadulterated, carefully recorded to reflect the voice of the original teller. Since Gonzenbach collected primarily from women tellers and was herself female, the feminine perspective of the tales hearkens back to the French Salons albeit at a different class level. Be warned that these tales have not been softened and at times reflect the violence, cruelty, and unfairness of life with clear language; these stories are not for the nursery. Zipes' comprehensive introduction and endnotes (including Aarne-Thompson classification numbers) enhance the scholarly weight of the text, but the stories can be read strictly for the enjoyment of the armchair folklorist.

This collection is especially recommended for readers interested in 19th century folktale collections, feminist folklore and Sicily.

Highly recommended.

I question the value because, while the stories are entertaining and do indeed exhibit a uniquely Sicilian flair, the plot lines are extremely familiar. To be sure, both Gonzenbach/Zipes books are completely subsumed by Italo Calvino's monumental work under Pantheon's colophon. I question the provenance because--some years after Zipes "discovered" Gonzenbach's $35 trove of Sicilian tales--he mysteriously just happened to "discover" a complementary $35 trove. Hmm ... I guess sticking to the ol' two-stage discovery paradigm doubles your revenues.