The Classic Fairy Tales / Edition 1

by Iona Opie, Peter Opie

Overview

This volume contains twenty-four of the best known fairy tales in the English language, presented here in the exact words of their first English publication or of the earliest surviving text. Including "Sleeping Beauty," "Bluebeard," "Cinderella," "Thumbelina," and "Hansel and Gretel," as well as many others, this collection provides a historical introduction for each tale and a general Introduction which traces the history of fairy tales collected in Asia and Europe long before they appeared in English.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195202199
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/13/1980
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	7.71(w) x 5.04(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

About the Authors:
Iona Opie and her late husband Peter wrote and edited many books together, including The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book, The Oxford Book of Children's Verse, The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren, The Singing Game, and Children's Games in Street and Playground

Editorial Reviews

"All ages will enjoy Iona and Peter Opie's collection of The Classic Fairy Tales."—York County Coast Star

"Their most enjoyable book to date...For your money you get three books in one, the stories, the essays and the ample illustrations."—illiam Golding, Listener

"A beautiful book...both charming and scholarly"—Paul Barker, New Society

"Some wand must have been waved over the Opies to give them the brilliant idea for this book...A volume of extraordinary fascination and richness."—Edwin Morgan

"This is a book that everybody ought to possess."— Richard Adams

"It is not possible to praise too highly The Classic Fairy Tales, selected, introduced, and annotated by the peerless scholars of children's literature Iona and Peter Opie."—The New Yorker

"Contains 24 of the best-known fairy tales, dozens of absolutely entrancing illustrations, and a brilliant and extensive commentary by Iona and Peter Opie, the peerless anthologists who have given us the Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes."—Washington Post

From the Publisher