This bestselling anthology of folk and fairy tales brings together 54 stories, 9 critical articles, and 24 color illustrations from a range of historical and geographic traditions. Sections group tales together by theme or juxtapose variations of individual tales, inviting comparison and analysis across cultures and genres. Accessible critical selections provide a foundation for readers to analyze, debate, and interpret the tales for themselves. An expanded introduction by the editors looks at the history of folk and fairy tales and distinguishes between the genres, while revised introductions to individual sections provide more detailed history of particular tellers and tales, paying increased attention to the background and cultural origin of each tale.

This new edition includes a larger selection of critical articles (including pieces by J.R.R. Tolkien and Marina Warner), more modern and cross-cultural variations on classic tales (including stories by Neil Gaiman and Emma Donoghue), and an expanded selection of color illustrations.

Martin Hallett's profile page

Barbara Karasek's profile page

Martin Hallett has retired from teaching and lives in Grand Pré, Nova Scotia. Barbara Karasek has retired from teaching and lives in Montreal.

Praise for past editions

“This collection simultaneously gives readers a thorough introduction to the folk and fairy tale canon and challenges us to rethink that canon by including non-Western variants and postmodern retellings of classic tales, illustrations, and critical essays that enrich and diversify our sense of the field. Best of all, organizing the tales by theme and by tale type encourages students to make innovative and original connections. It is a fabulous introduction to the primary texts and to some of the central debates in the field.” — Dara Regaignon, New York University