Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance

"Fabulous French fairy tales and the equally dramatic life stories of their authors shine in this fascinating book by novelist Harrington (In Circling Flight)... VERDICT Written in a creative nonfiction style, this book fills an enormous gap in the history of fairy tales. It belongs on every shelf of literature relating to this art form."—Library Journal, starred review

"In this meticulously researched and gorgeously presented blend of biography and folklore, Harrington reclaims the origins of the fairy tale by introducing seven seventeenth-century French conteuses (female storytellers) whose lives and literary work dared to question the social norms of their time. Harrington seamlessly intertwines the conteuses’ biographies with retellings of their tales, allowing readers to see not only the imaginative worlds they created but the lived experiences that shaped them. The heroines in these stories are not damsels in distress; they
are thinkers, rebels, and strategists, and their creators addressed real issues: autonomy, marriage, power, and identity. This collection is as visually striking as it is intellectually engaging.... Perfect for readers drawn to feminist literary history, narrative reclamation, or the enduring influence of myth, this book quietly insists we rewrite what we thought we knew about the roots of the fairy tale."—Booklist

“A stunning hardcover, filled with enchanting, full-color illustrations … Harrington is a lively and astute researcher, ensuring that Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance educates, entertains, and inspires.”—Shelf Awareness