Dark Fairy Tales: A Disturbing Collection of Original Stories

by Grimm Brothers, Charles Perrault, Lizzie Stoddart

Genres: Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology; Horror

Synopsis

Discover the original macabre stories of your most beloved classics in this collection of disturbingly dark fairy tales.

‘Story-telling is one of the most ancient and universal of arts.’ – Laura F. Kready, A Study of Fairy Tales, 1916

‘The instruments of darkness tell us truths.’ – William Shakespeare, Macbeth, 1623

This twisted treasury presents over forty of the world’s most wicked fairy tales, including the original versions of stories you thought you knew, such as ‘Cinderella’, ‘Sleeping Beauty’, and ‘Snow White’. Relish in the morbid darkness of these early classics, alongside many other tales you haven't heard before. From renowned storytellers of the fairy tale genre, this collection sources works from the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, and many more.

Dark Fairy Tales is woven with themes of lost innocence, beastly bonds, and haunted hearts, aiming to inspire, caution, and illuminate valuable aspects of the human experience. Be warned, for these stories are not for the faint of heart and happy endings cannot be guaranteed.

 

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Release date: January 30, 2024

Publisher: Pook Press

Print pages: 254

Sample

Vanished Innocence

Tales of Lost Childhood

Showcasing the bravery and resilience of children forced into extreme and often gruesome situations, each fairy tale in this chapter features the recurring theme of lost innocence. Presenting the original stories of beloved classics such as ‘Cinderella’, ‘Snow White’, ‘Rapunzel’, and ‘Sleeping Beauty’, many of these narratives feature unsettling themes, centring young characters tackling issues far beyond their years. Overcoming wicked stepmothers, ogres, and witches, these children are forced to shoulder the weight of adult responsibility far too soon.

The Son of Seven Queens - Joseph Jacobs

Schneewittchen (Snow White) - The Brothers Grimm

The Handless Maiden - The Brothers Grimm

Babes in the Wood - Anonymous

Petrosinella (Rapunzel) - Giambattista Basile

Hansel and Gretel - The Brothers Grimm

Sun, Moon, and Talia (Sleeping Beauty) - Giambattista Basile

The Juniper Tree - The Brothers Grimm

Aschenputtel (Cinderella) - The Brothers Grimm

How Children Played Slaughtering Together - The Brothers Grimm