Cinderella
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Cinderella is one of the best known stories of all time. Originally penned by Charles Perrault, in his Histoires ou Contes du Temps Passé, it was an instant success. Perrault reported that he was told the story by some anonymous folk-story-tellers, and added extra details (such as the Fairy God-Mother, the much loved pumpkin carriage, anthropomorphic animal servants and the little glass slippers).
Cinderella is one of the best known stories of all time. Originally penned by Charles Perrault, in his Histoires ou Contes du Temps Passé, it was an instant success.
Perrault reported that he was told the story by some anonymous folk-story-tellers, and added extra details (such as the Fairy God-Mother, the much loved pumpkin carriage, anthropomorphic animal servants and the little glass slippers).
Perrault (1628 – 1703) was among the first writers to bring magical children’s stories into the literary mainstream, proving to his original seventeenth century readers that such works were important, enjoyable, as well as thought-provoking. They remain as popular today, as they were then.
Cinderella is accompanied throughout by a series of dazzling colour and black and white illustrations – by a master of the craft; Arthur Rackham. One of the most celebrated painters of the British Golden Age of Illustration (which encompassed the years from 1850 until the start of the First World War), Rackham’s artistry is quite simply, unparalleled. Throughout his career, he developed a unique style, combining haunting humour with dream-like romance.
Presented alongside the text, his illustrations further refine and elucidate Perrault’s enchanting narrative.
Check out our Book Finder for more Fairy Tales.
Learning Through Literature recommends Cinderella for its teaching about traditional retelling of the story and beautiful artwork.
Check out this review from GoodReads:
Pook Press celebrates the great Golden Age of Illustration in children’s literature. Many of the earliest children’s books, particularly those dating back to the 1850s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Pook Press are working to republish these classic works in affordable, high quality, colour editions, using the original text and artwork so these works can delight another generation of children. Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) was one of the premier illustrators of the early 20th Century. He illustrated many books, the first of which was published in 1893. Throughout his career he had developed a very individual style that is was to influence a whole generation of children, artists and other illustrators. His haunting humour and dreamlike romance adds to the enchantment and fantasy of children’s literature.
