Is there a book which explains the meaning of nursery rhymes/fairy tales?

[bohemianbint]

Cos I really want to read one!

[MrsBadger]

am sure the Opies wrote one but can't find it

[verona]

The Opies' book is 'The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes'.
It's fab

[bohemianbint]

Oooh, brilliant, will look it up - thanks!

[ellceeell]

This is quite a good sit if you can't wait to get a book! www.rhymes.org.uk/

[ellceeell]

Sorry, site

[bohemianbint]

cheers ellceeell!

[dizietsma]

Check out some Jack Zipes

After reading his analysis of various illustrations in Red Riding Hood in a great book of fairy tales called Don't Bet on the Prince, I'm feeling very weird about teaching my little girl a story with the moral that if she is raped by a strange man in the woods then she deserved it for leading him on!

[bohemianbint]

Christ, is that what that's all about?!

They really are dark, aren't they...

[Anna8888]

Bruno Bettelheim "The Uses of Enchantment" (Penguin) is the classic work on fairy tales.

[marina]

Bruno Bettelheim, also Marina Warner

[Zazette]

Bettelheim's book is a classic, but his ideas have been vigorously contested. Marina Warner's books are really good for giving you an overview of how people like Bettelheim have approached fairy tales and what the limitations of their views are, as well as offering her own readings. Maria Tatar has also written some really good books about fairytales.