The stories of magic and transformation that we call fairy tales are one of the oldest known forms of literature, and also one of the most popular and enduring. While most people think of the fairy tale as having come into existence almost magically long ago, they are in fact still being created. And while they are principally directed to children and have child protagonists, these modern fairy tales, like the classics, have messages to those of all ages. In The Oxford Book of Modern Fairy Tales, editor Alison Lurie collects such modern stories of the late nineteenth century up to the present. Here are trolls and princesses, magic and mayhem, morals to be told and lessons to be learned--all the elements of the classic fairy tale, in new and marvelous stories. Including the works of Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthorne, George MacDonald, Mary De Morgan, H.G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson, Joan Aiken, Carl Sandburg, Angela Carter, James Thurber, Louise Erdrich, and many more, here is a treasury of tales that, though set in an unreal and irrelevant universe, have much to tell us about the real world in which we live.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
YA-A delightful volume, full of old favorites and some priceless new gems, with a wonderful chronological arrangement that allows readers to absorb information on literary developments and trends, or simply to enjoy the well-told tales. The biographical notes on the authors at the end are full of interesting material, but again, students are free to ignore the critical analyses if they so choose. The whole collection is first rate and demonstrates beautifully that modern fairy tales are not just for kids.
Cathy Chauvette, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Cathy Chauvette, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
`Review from previous edition This collection isn't a book for children, but a book for readers who would like to be.' Marina Warner, Times Literary Supplement
`[An] excellent anthology ... I devoured it with childish voraciousness, reminiscent of those nights of late reading with a torch in the cave of one's bedclothes.' Caroline Moore, The Times
`[a] witty and enterprising story selection ... Ms Lurie turns surprise into a unifying principle. Each of these tales finds some way to turn a traditional fairy-tale formula inside out.' New York Times
`[An] excellent anthology ... I devoured it with childish voraciousness, reminiscent of those nights of late reading with a torch in the cave of one's bedclothes.' Caroline Moore, The Times
`[a] witty and enterprising story selection ... Ms Lurie turns surprise into a unifying principle. Each of these tales finds some way to turn a traditional fairy-tale formula inside out.' New York Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
typical oxford,
This review is from: The Oxford Book of Modern Fairy Tales (Paperback)
There is a wide variety of writing styles in this collection although it should be noted there is an emphasis on British authors until you reach the more contemporary tales. It is also a little outdated, cutting just short of the sudden wave of contemporary fairy tale writers from the 1990s.
Also, this may not be an ideal collection for children for a few reasons: the vocabulary from some tales is likely to be difficult, most children will not grasp/enjoy the more modern narrative structures and some parents may object to the overt sexual content in some of the tales.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A marvellous collection of tales.,
By Christopher Waldrop (NASHVILLE, TN USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Oxford Book of Modern Fairy Tales (Paperback)
Alison Lurie, whose brilliant book "Don't Tell the Grownups" demonstrates both her knowledge of and insight into children's literature, has done a wonderful job of collecting fairy tales from the 19th Century all the way up to the present, including authors such as Dickens, Thurber, and Le Guin. Anyone familiar with Lang's "Prince Prigio" will wish it had been included, but the other tales more than compensate for its absence.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Oxford Book of Modern Fairy Tales,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Oxford Book of Modern Fairy Tales (Paperback)
This book is a comprehensive of 19th Century up to today of fairy tales. It is a great buy because of all the stories you get for your money. It has all the fairy tales we have loved throughout the ages. It is great to give to your children.
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