Romance novels obviously draw inspiration for their plot lines from children’s fairy tales—Cinderella, where the poor scullery-maid gets outfitted in a fabulous gown and meets a handsome prince, Beauty And The Beast, where a woman meets a man whose rough exterior hides a sensitive soul, and stories where the woman must sacrifice herself to an evil being to save her family (sound familiar?), and the evil being ends up being a handsome prince.
Cara’s post about children’s books reminded me of my all-time favorite fairy story collection, which Elena also mentioned: Andrew Lang’s Colored Fairy Books, 13 in all, which gather tales from around the world, including Japan, Romania, Iceland, Africa, and India, as well as the ubiquitous European sources.
(For more information and complete texts (!) of Andrew Lang’s stories, click here. And if you ever get the chance to read one of these books for yourself, pay attention to H.J. Ford’s magnificent illustrations, which aren’t done justice recreated here on the web.)
I’m right in the middle of writing a road/marriage of convenience story, but am already beginning to think about the next book; what are your favorite fairy stories, and how would you translate them into a Regency setting?
I feel a little lost over here in the Regency area, but you asked, so I answer.
Oddly enough, my favorite fairy tale in the Purple (sorry, Violet) Fairy Book (the only one of the series we own) is “Stan Bolovan,” mostly because his trickery is so unlike the general Fairy Tale plot.
But the one that made my daughter cry when I read it to her was “The Story of a Gazelle” (when you reread it, I think you’ll know when she started to bawl – which isn’t to say that I didn’t get choked up, too).
The Gazelle is my absolute favorite out of all the stories, too, and even now, my husband and I talk about work or whatever, I will sometimes nod sagely and comment that someone in a situation was the gazelle.
I grew up with Hans Christian Anderson, Brothers Grimm, Aesop, Enid Blyton, and a host of other fairy tales. Recently, I’ve read Norwegian and Celtic ones.
My husband introduced me to the politically correct fairy tales, which are absolutely hilarious.
I really must reread these, Megan! And introduce them to my children.
Beauty and the Beast is probably my favorite fairy tale but I haven’t written a romance based on it (yet). I’ve used others, though. I’ve got one in the works that is a Rapunzel story.
I also remember loving a fairy tale that may have been the inspiration for the movie LADYHAWKE. Do you happen to know what it is called, Megan? I would love to read it again.
I loved fantasy books when I was a kid, and anything with magic in it, but I never got that into fairy tales. (Perhaps because they’re too weird, eerie, cruel, etc? And the protagonists often have no character, or aren’t that nice?)
Anyway, Beauty and the Beast was probably my favorite because it’s not a typical fairy tale, but is more modern than most… Also liked Twelve Dancing Princesses — heck, if one princess is good, twelve dancing ones are lovely! (And the hero marries the eldest, not the youngest, for a change!)
Cara
Elena:
There are many different stories that have animal by day, human by night themes–I googled Ladyhawke, and didn’t find it was based on any one story, but an amalgamation. Of course, can you always believe what you read on the web?
Cara, I loved the 12 Dancing Princesses too.
And the Beauty And the Beast is just the whole reforming of the rake thing, isn’t it?
One of my favorite fairy tales from childhood was “Snow White and Rose Red”–and to this day I love novels about sisters/siblings with parallel love stories (Pride&Prejudice, Sense&Sensibility, Heyer’s The Masqueraders). It’s probably some Gemini thing!
(And can I just say that I am SO EXCITED about Carla Kelly being here! ::happy dance::)
Oh, for goondess’ sake, I am beyond chatty today. But I wanted to say–
too weird, eerie, cruel, etc?
is probably why I like fairy tales so much, Cara!
Mercedes Lackey is writing fairytales translated to her own frame of magic- for grown ups. I love them.
Beauty and the beast has always been my fav, but I want to switch the roles.
I guess I grew up more with DIsney versions of fairy tales. . . but I did catch up a tad when I took Children’s Lit class in school. We read a variety of things in there, including different, non-Disney versions of fairy tales.
Mom liked when we had to go to the bookstore (sure, could have gone to the library, but we like the bookstore for things) in the kids section for a project. Now, we go into the kids section for my sis because while she’s only two years younger than me, and I’m 30, she is mentally retarded and all, so simple kids books is what she understands, and hey, she likes them. But here we are, haven’t been in a kids section for me in a long time. . . and I had to get 5 or so story books by some particular author, name escapes me. I know it wasn’t Sendak, someone else in the group had him. LOL
Anyway, I’ve read Regencies with Cinderella themes, probably more Beauty and the Beast themes (I like those, they remind me of a Phantom of the Opera theme LOL) and Karen Hawkins had a type of Snow White theme in one book. And there’s the Pygmalian/My Fair Lady (sp?) theme, but I guess that’s not really a fairy tale though. LOL
Oh and PS — I very rarely ever make it into a store that sells Harelquin Books, and even less in books that have historicals, so I do tend to miss a lot. But today, I made it into one with historicals, and I got both Innocence and Impropriety and Beau Crusoe!! I’m really happy about that!!!
Lois
I can’t believe I got through the whole day without visiting the Riskies!
Lois, I’m really touched that you bought Innocence and Impropriety! I hope you enjoy it.
I can remember reading Japanese fairy tales which scared me witless. There were all these scary creatures with big eyes who sat in trees in dark forests. Shudder!
I suppose I have elements of fairy tales in my stories – Cinderella in The Wagering Widow, maybe???
Diane
I just found 12 of these Fairy Books at work and snatched them up a few weeks ago. I remember you posting about them in the past and how much you liked them.
I just love fairy tales and love when they are adapted for different stories.
Nicole:
That’s so cool! Let me know if you like them.
May be too late to answer here but I’ve been away and just checking my loops. I always liked King Thrushbeard — a reminder of not being too arrogant (and, yet, the princess did win out, didn’t she?!?). I’m just finishing a Regency trilogy by a new author to me, Tracey Anne Warren, and her second book has this theme in it.
I tend to like the Cinderella theme, but more along the lines of Drew Barrymore’s Happy Ever After. I want my Cinderella to be a little bit independent but still understanding the importance of the love of a good man.