Little Red Riding Hood and Other Classic French Fairy Tales

Book excerpt: 'Alas for those girls who've refused the truth- The sweetest tongue has the sharpest tooth.' Arranged marriages, trials to win the princess, children lost in the woods, the transformation of humans into beasts, charms and curses, evil stepsisters, tests of love and courage-these are the motifs that touch readers so profoundly as they read these wonderful stories. Along with perennial favorites such as 'Little Red Riding Hood,' 'Sleeping Beauty,' 'Cinderella,' and 'Beauty and the Beast,' gathered hereare some of the most beloved tales, with an enduring power far beyond childhood. This superb collection of classic French fairy tales, translated by eminent folklore scholar Jack Zipes, captures the magic that makes these stories so special and will enchant modern readers of all ages.