Snow White [Hardcover]

Josephine Poole (Author), Angela Barrett (Illustrator)

Book Description

Originally published in 1991 and unavailable for nearly five years, here's a stunning gift edition of the classic Grimm fairy tale by the creators of last year's highly praised Joan of Arc, published by Knopf.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Mirror, mirror on the wall,/ Who is the fairest of us all?"

This well-known entreaty by the evil queen is where any fundamental similarity between the Disney version of Snow White and this lovely interpretation begins and ends. Grimm's fairy tale is familiar, but the subtlety, respect, and mystery of this new version are unique, as are the depth of characterization and plot. Barrett's rich, gorgeous illustrations serve as a stunning backdrop to the reinvented drama, and contribute to the more sophisticated feel of this rendition. The seven dwarfs, for example, are not depicted as freakish slow-witted anomalies; they are simply small, kind men. One of the most haunting images of the book is of Snow White running through the dark forest, translucent white gown flowing, scratches from the brambles barely visible on her legs, wild animals racing along beside her as comrades and protectors.

This British author-illustrator pair also collaborated on the highly acclaimed Joan of Arc. Barrett's illustrations (also seen in The Emperor's New Clothes and other books) have an elegant, luminescent appeal, ideal for the romance of a fairy tale. Readers of any age will be mesmerized by the exquisite interweaving of Poole and Barrett's art. (Ages 5 to 10) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Exquisite endpapers set the tone for this elegant version of one of the most-loved fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm: a leafless ebony tree stands in stark relief against a sweeping expanse of snow, the whiteness of which is marred by a single drop of blood. Echoing the central image of this classic tale of contrasts (good and evil, innocence and cruelty, youth and age, beauty and ugliness of spirit), Barrett's images unfold in a twilight world of ethereal beauty anchored by telling detail, from the moonlight reflected in the creek by the dwarves' cottage to the evil-looking poison comb the disguised queen offers Snow White. Poole's version of the lovely young princess and her vindictive stepmother remains faithful to the original, and enchants with its unassuming prose. The artwork's overall tone is sophisticated and somewhat remote, placing the book beyond the reach of younger readers, but this is nonetheless a fairy tale in the grand tradition, and an exemplary marriage of illustration and narrative. All ages.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (November 19, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679826564
• ISBN-13: 978-0679826569
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,124,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poole & Barrett edition of Snow White, August 21, 2002

By 

LeeAnn Balbirona (Washington state) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snow White (Hardcover)

Wonderful illustrations, of course, but also the story includes the incidents with the poisoned comb and the suffocating bodice ribbons (left out in many editions). A great book for parents looking to replace the Disney-fied version for their children.

If you like this, also check out the same author/illustrator team's collaboration on "Joan of Arc."

The illustrations are beautiful without being frou-frou, serious without being creepy. Highly recommended for ages 4-8.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Snow White by Josephine Poole & Angela Barrett--SUPERB!, January 30, 2003

By 

brainiacbooks (Staten Island, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snow White (Hardcover)

The cover image stopped me in my tracks at the bookstore, and I bought multiple copies. The young woman at the checkout counter was mesmerized by the image as well. The illustrations inside equal or surpass the one on the cover.

The images are detailed but not fussy. They are highly evocative of German Romanticism -- very moody, dreamy, somewhat melancholy, with an emphasis on the grandeur of Nature. If you enjoy the illustrations of Maurice Sendak, Edward Gorey, Arthur Rackham, et al., you will like this book.

Like Barrett's artwork, Poole's text tells the classic tale soberly, including the queen's botched attempts to strangle Snow White with silken laces and prick her with a poison comb. There is also more mention of Snow White's mother and father than in many retellings. This version is certainly more in line with magical/mystical/matriarchal imagery than Disney's.

Some of the images -- e.g., drops of blood -- and the story itself may be too intense for very young readers. For me, this book is a contemporary gem and is worth seeking out.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dreamy somber illustrations & haunting story, November 20, 2004

By 

Kotori (Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Snow White (Hardcover)

SO many things to love about this book, this version of Snow White. It's not sanitized, the binding on the inside is a two page spread of a glossy ebony tree, against spellbinding white snow and one stain of red blood - every single image is exquisite, I could describe them all poetically.

As usual the young queen bears a girl and dies, the king remarries a "superlatively beautiful queen", who "also had a proud heart and a greedy, jealous temper".

So the story goes on as usual, but is somehow injected with new Excitement! new Pathos.

Although snow white is supremely silly, and the prince falls in love far too easily, the Dwarves are excellently drawn & written.

Instead of being humorous shovel-totting twats they're just stolid kindly woodsmen who grow fond of poor young SW.

The story is retold very nicely and fresh, but it is the paintings that make this book priceless.

Every single page is a peek into an enchanted world, moody romantic & mysterious.

kotori [e-mail]