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Original poster

Book of ‘original’ fairy tales

40 replies

PicturesOfDogs · 13/12/2022 14:40

Can anyone recommend a nice book of the ‘original’ versions of fairy tales with some nice illustrations.

I’ve always coveted one of those big tomes you see in the movies, when they search for the clues in old fairy tales and they pull out those big leather bound books with illustrations and lettering done in gold.

I mean, I don’t want one just like that, as I’m very sure I couldn’t afford it! But that kind of style.

Ive had a browse online, but nothing is jumping out

OP posts:

Purpleblob · 13/12/2022 19:06

I had this as a child and bought it second hand recently www.wob.com/en-gb/books/hans-christian-andersen/complete-illustrated-stories/9780907486268?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIx5Oe6KT3-wIVjdwYCh1eiQp7EAQYAiABEgKA3_D_BwE#GOR003187321

BudgeUpAnne · 13/12/2022 19:14

Something like this?

www.books2door.com/products/ladybird-tales-my-once-upon-a-time-library-24-book-collection-ages-5-7-paperback?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4uCcBhDdARIsAH5jyUk4_Wm6opYKZwFb-fOH6z3Szz9wUkawV4RUSn0csZh2J0jfZCkHloQaAq2XEALw_wcB

BigMandsTattooPortfolio · 13/12/2022 19:14

Hans Christian Anderson wrote his own traumatic childhood into his tales, he was possibly bi-polar and suffered from a mass of phobias from dogs to being buried alive. But yes, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and The Little Mermaid, along with The Red Shoes and Little Match Girl are almost self-indulgently tragic.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Children's books

BasiliskStare · 13/12/2022 19:24

@PicturesOfDogs I was just about to say as @LadyOfTheCanyon has - look at Abe books ( 2nd hand ) they have a much better range of more esoteric books than Amazon 2nd hand

Original poster

PicturesOfDogs · 13/12/2022 19:31

I’m going to end up with a whole bookcase I think!

The folklore, myths and legends of Britain book wasn’t what I had originally had in mind when typing this, but I now covet this too! Just been looking at the reviews on Amazon and it looks amazing!

OP posts:

wouldukissafrog · 13/12/2022 19:42

I have this lots of beautiful illustrations too

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-annotated-brothers-grimm/jacob-grimm/wilhelm-grimm/9780393088861?gbraid=0AAAAADANKJkGjTxh6Z7PmjA4J Bfu0gEs&awc=378771670960510 634dfeb43df118caf230bb540dbb6927&utmmsource=259955&utm medium=affiliate&utmm_campaign=Genie+Shopping+CSS

BasiliskStare · 13/12/2022 19:43

Oh @wouldukissafrog That looks rather lovely

wouldukissafrog · 13/12/2022 19:45

@BasiliskStare it really is. Hubby bought it for me for a milestone birthday as I had shared how much I loved grims fairy tales as a child. Now many years later I read it to DD5

There are annotation pages that DD wouldn't understand or be interested in but the actual stories are all there and beautifully illustrated

MenaiMna · 13/12/2022 19:48

I bought this for teen dd last Christmas, she was pleased as it wasn't "childish" but still lovely. I hope the link works! www.axelbooks.com/products/classic-fairy-and-folk-tales-6-books-box-set-collection-by-various-authors?variant=41743462334639&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4uCcBhDdARIsAH5jyUnaqaCQlKzO1CF-LIS8zPHDA-rcFKV686sFjWQT3O6Bo_jNPsek2hwaAlzMEALw_wcB

Herja · 13/12/2022 19:52

If it's for you not a child, I'd really recommend the Opie's Fairy tale collection. It's the earliest English language version, with early illustrations, of well known stories. The outside isn't the most beautiful, but the stories are wonderful and each comes with a brief explanation. It's one of my favourite books.

Sleeping beauty is creepy as fuck though.

Madcats · 13/12/2022 19:55

If you are looking online, try Oxfam and Bookbarn.

Ebay might be a good source of Folio Society books - we used to buy a lot 30 or 40 years ago.

Finally, my local (fair sized) Waterstones used to have a bookcase of what I would describe as hardbacks for school prizes and presents from relatives.

PhotoDad · 13/12/2022 19:58

@PicturesOfDogs The Folklore, Myths, and Legends of Britain is a real treasure-trove. More encyclopaedia than story-book but definitely worth it even at inflated second-hand prices. Other posters on this thread would enjoy it, too!

MrsFriskers · 13/12/2022 22:22

Like @Herja, I recommend this one, currently on Abebooks www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31137185412&searchurl=an%3Diona%2Bpeter%2Bopie%26fe%3Don%26sortby%3D17%26tn%3Dthe%2Bclassic%2Bfairy%2Btales&cm_sp=snippet--srp1--title1

HairlikeGeorgeEliot · 13/12/2022 22:32

PhotoDad · 13/12/2022 18:17

If you ever see a copy of the sadly out-of-print "Folklore, Myths, and Legends of Britain" published by Readers' Digest in the 1970s, buy it like a shot. Or track it down second-hand online. It's pretty much my DD's favourite book (she's a trainee book illustrator at art school; it includes really obscure local stories, not just the famous one!)

This was my favourite book as a child- still is now. I look up any new holiday places we go to to read the fairy and ghost stories- I was obsessed with the Cottingley fairies because of it. Fantastic book.

ehb102 · 13/12/2022 23:18

Gender swap fairy tales is btw brilliant.

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