Martin Hallett and Barbara Karasek’s collection, Folk and Fairy Tales, is now in its fourth edition, and it remains one of the best introductory anthologies on the market. Though it is obviously designed as an introductory reader, the book manages to incorporate a solid amount of material for scholars. It is an extremely well-organized text that includes numerous versions of prominent folk and fairy tales.
Naturally, the book begins with a preface that discusses changes in this particular edition. Notable among these is an expansion and regrouping of the tales by type, as opposed to grouping by chronological order. Also, a section called “Juxtapositions” was added in order to draw direct comparisons among pairs of tales. The editors also provide a short rationale for their inclusion of critical essays, and they conclude by directing readers to the companion website for the text.
Following the preface is a very well-presented introduction. Those who tend to skip such introductory material will undoubtedly miss out on some very beneficial information. Not only does this section define folk and fairy tales, but it also covers their evolution from the origins of collected tales to the influence of film on the genre. The introduction represents a serious, critical discussion of fairy tales that, despite its brevity, is quite thorough and very well-supported.
The individual sections of the text will be of greatest interest to readers, and rightfully so. The first section is focused on “Little Red Riding Hood.” It begins with a brief but informative discussion by the editors, and then follows with numerous versions and variations of tales, including those by the famed Grimm Brothers and Charles Perrault. This is not, however, just a collection of classic fairy tales, as more modern interpretations, such as Angela Carter’s “The Company of Wolves” and Tim Seibel’s 1999 poem, “What Bugs Bunny Said to Red Riding Hood,” make appearances. The rest of is organized in much the same manner, with two other sections titled “Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella.”
The remaining sections are organized by themes. “Growing Up is Hard to Do” includes versions of such famous fairy tales as “Hansel and Gretel,” “Snow White,” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.” “Brain over Brawn” features “Puss in Boots” and “The Brave Little Tailor.” Other sections include “The Enchanted Bride (Groom),” “Villains,” and “A Less than Perfect World.” In large part, these sections rely on classic offerings by the Grimm Brothers, Perrault, and Hans Christian Andersen, but more contemporary variations are sprinkled throughout the text.
The final three sections include the previously mentioned “Juxtapositions,” which sets up four pair of stories to invite direct comparisons. A brief chapter on illustrations is presented, with full-page, color illustrations from a variety of artists, a terrific addition to this collection. What makes this collection stand out from the rest, however, are the essays included in the “Criticism” section. It includes essays from prominent scholars Alan Dundes and Bruno Bettelheim. Though all of the essays are excellent selections in their own right, of particular interest are a pair of contemporary essays that will assuredly appeal to students. Betsy Hearne’s “Disney Revisited, Or, Jiminy Cricket, It’s Musty Down Here” and “The End of Fairy Tales? How Shrek and Friends have Changed Children’s Stories,” by James Poniewozik, speak directly to this generation, which has been raised on popular culture variations on fairy tales.
If one were to judge the text based solely on its intended purpose, that of an introductory reader, it could only be judged a tremendous success. It is, perhaps, the best possible introductory text in this field of study. However, judging it by this criterion alone does not illustrate the tremendous mass-market appeal that such a book possesses. Everyone, from Shrek fans to the casual fairy tale reader to serious scholars, will find some element in this book that not only extends their knowledge of folk and fairy tales, but extends their appreciation of them as well.
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[Review length: 660 words • Review posted on November 10, 2010]