Bluebeard – And Other Mysterious Men with Even Stranger Facial Hair
This book is part of our beloved Origins of Fairy Tales from Around the World Series which showcases the amazing breath and diversity involved in folkloric storytelling. It focuses on the phenomenon that the same tales, with only minor variations, appear again and again in different cultures – across time and geographical space. The tale of Bluebeard has an incredibly long and fascinating history. Unlike most fairy-tales, its origins can be traced to real events and people – horrific tales of murdering noblemen and insecure husbands, dating back to fifteenth century France and beyond. Some argue that its origins can be found even earlier, in the Roman myth of Cupid and Psyche or even the biblical story of Eve and her fatal curiosity. The story of Bluebeard is one full of deceit, death, murder, blood and forbidden chambers, and as with all great narrative traditions, it has been appropriated and adapted across generations and geographical location. With each re-telling, the cautionary legend is kept alive.Bluebeard – And Other Mysterious Men with Even Stranger Facial Hair
This book contains seven different versions of the story of Bluebeard from around the world. Fairy tales and folktales included:
‘This man had the misfortune to have a blue beard.’ Illustration by Harry Clark
- Adam and Eve (A Hebrew Tale) from the book of Genesis (2:4 – 3:24)
- Conomor and Tréphine (A Breton Tale) by Ernest Alfred Vizetelly (1853 – 1922)
- The Tale of Prince Agib (An Arabian Tale) from One Thousand and One Nights.
- La Barbe Bleue (A French Tale) by Charles Perrault
- Fitcher’s Bird (A German Tale) by the Brothers Grimm
- How the Devil Married Three Sisters (An Italian Tale) by Thomas Frederick Crane
- The Brahman Girl that Married a Tiger (An Indian Tale) from Tales of the Sun; or, Folklore of Southern India by Georgina Wolff Kingscote
- Mr. Fox (An English Tale) collected by Joseph Jacobs
‘Seven and one are eight, Madam!’ Illustration by Edmund Dulac
It also includes an in-depth introduction to the fairy tale genre itself, as well as the folkloric provenance of the ‘Bluebeard’ story.
The tales in this book are enhanced by the addition of over 50 stunning illustrations by talented artists from the Golden Age of Illustration. Illustrations from W. Heath Robinson, Harry Clarke, Jennie Harbour, Gustave Doré and many more provide a fascinating insight into an era of intense historical and creative development, bringing both little known stories, and the art that has accompanied them, back to life.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about this classic fairy tale and it’s many variations from around the world.
If you would like to purchase this book to read these tales in full visit Amazon.
If you would like to read more about the legend of Bluebeard visit our page on the History of Bluebeard.
