Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance: The Forgotten Founding Mothers of the Fairy Tale and the Stories That They Spun is a stunning hardcover, filled with enchanting, full-color illustrations by Khoa Le. Jane Harrington (In Circling Flight) shares the forgotten stories of a group of 17th-century Parisian women writers, the conteuses, whose contributions have since been overshadowed by figures such as Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm.
The book combines biographies of seven of these writers--including Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy, who is credited with "start[ing] the fairy tale craze"--with retellings of 13 of their fairy tales, including stories such as "Belle-Belle", which has elements that may have gone on to inspire the popular classic "Beauty and the Beast." Each chapter contains vibrant, painted vignettes and evocative scenes from the featured stories.
Using their tales to advocate for female empowerment and to fight against the tyrannical monarchy of Louis XIV, the conteuses portrayed their heroines as strong protagonists, capable of independent thought and agency.
Harrington is a lively and astute researcher, ensuring that Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance educates, entertains, and inspires. --Grace Rajendran, freelance reviewer