The Great Fairy Tale Tradition: From Straparola and Basile to the Brothers Grimm (Norton Critical Editions) (Paperback)

by Jack Zipes (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Based on new scholarship and designed specifically for course use, The Great Fairy Tale Tradition: From Straparola and Basile to the Brothers Grimm is the indispensable companion for courses focused on the Brothers Grimm and fairy tales in general. As the genre's leading expert, Jack Zipes disproves conventional wisdom regarding the origins of the Grimm fairy tales, which holds that the Grimms collected their tales from the oral traditions of peasants. This is simply not so. Rather, the Grimms took most of their tales from literary sources, rewriting them again and again. These tales are based on a great literary tradition, which this volume documents. The fairy tales—116 in all—are grouped thematically and are accompanied by detailed introductions and annotations. "Criticism" provides seven important assessments of different aspects of the fairy tale tradition by Jack Zipes, W.G. Waters, Benedetto Croce, Lewis Seifert, Patricia Hannon, Harry Velten, and Siegfried Neumann. Brief biographies of the storytellers and a Selected Bibliography are also included.

About the Series: No other series of classic texts equals the caliber of the Norton Critical Editions. Each volume combines the most authoritative text available with the comprehenive pedagogical apparatus necessary to appreciate the work fully. Careful editing, first-rate translation, and thorough explanatory annotations allow each text to meet the highest literary standards while remaining accessible to students. Each edition is printed on acid-free paper and every text in the series remains in print. Norton Critical Editions are the choice for excellence in scholarship for students at more than 2,000 universities worldwide.

About the Author
Jack Zipes (Ph.D. Columbia University) is a professor of German at the University of Minnesota. In addition to his scholarly work on children’s literature, he is an award-winning storyteller in public schools and has worked with various children’s theaters. His major publications include Sticks and Stones: The Troublesome Success of Children’s Literature from Slovenly Peter to Harry Potter (2000), Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales, Children, and the Culture Industry (1997), Fairy Tale as Myth/Myth as Fairy Tale (1994), The Brothers Grimm: From Enchanted Forests to the Modern World (1988), and Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion: The Classical Genre for Children and the Process of Civilization (1983).

Product Details

• Paperback: 1008 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.; annotated edition edition (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039397636X
• ISBN-13: 978-0393976366
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #149,269 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Textbook, December 3, 2003

By	Heidi Anne Heiner (SurLaLune Fairy Tales.com) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

If I was teaching a course on fairy tales, this book would be the course's primary text. Editor Jack Zipes compiled the book with such a purpose in mind and it's a job well done. The largest section, The Texts of the Great Fairy Tale Tradition, is comprised of fairy tale texts grouped into over 35 themes. Examples of themes include: Love Conquers All, Abandoned Children, Shrewd Cats, and Envious Sisters. Each theme has a minimum of two tales--usually more--with an introduction explaining the history of the theme and its tales. Zipes' introduction includes a definition of the literary fairy tale and its history as a genre. Critical essays by respected scholars are included in the Criticism section. Short biographies of the authors, black and white illustrations, and a selected bibliography add to the resources found inside. My only wish is that an index to aid with finding and cross-referencing tales had been included. This book makes a great reference book or textbook for the armchair scholar at an affordable price.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Than You Imagined, September 21, 2008

By	John C. Stewart - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Jack Zipes has brought together a comprehensive collection of fairy tales that surprises the reader with how insightful and timeless these tales are in regards to the human condition. Many of these tales, which are not found in more polite and juvenile collections, still have the power to enchant the imagination.

5.0 out of 5 stars a must for anyone interested in fairy tales, April 4, 2009

By	R. Baldwin - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is wonderful. The commentary is well-written and informative, and the grouping of related stories is great for sparking new thoughts. The only downside is that you may not want to read 4 similar stories in a row for fun, so this is more of an occasional indulgence than an all-at-once reading binge for me.