From Library Journal
Along with lullabies, play-party songs, riddles, and game rhymes, fairy tales are a basic part of childhood heritage. For youngsters, they are a bridge to a sense of security. English authority Ashley (The Chronicles of the Holy Grail, Carroll & Graf, 1996) has put together an anthology of 60 classic tales in modern English rendition, enhanced with selections by contemporary fantasists. Engaging stories from the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Anderson, A.A. Milne, and Charles Perrault are here aplenty. Contemporary tale tellers include Angela Carter, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Jane Yolen; literary legends not solely associated with the form?like Dickens, Lear, and Wilde?also offer delightful tales of wonderment. A superior collection of standard stories, complemented by distinctly modern takes on old themes, this is a timeless delight. The work contains valuable information on each story and its creator as well as illustrations. This first-rate sampling of the enchanting world of fairyland is recommended for all collections.?Richard K. Burns, MSLS, Hatboro, Pa.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
It's hard, given the wealth of material in the field, to make a bad selection of fairy tales, and Ashley's, while not startling, does offer a nice mix of the usual (including such authors as George MacDonald, Edith Nesbit, L. Frank Baum, Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, Oscar Wilde, Hans Christian Andersen, Jane Aiken, and Jane Yolen) and the less familiar (Liugi Capuani, Lawrence Schimel, and H.E. Bates, among others). Aficionados of the form will likely be familiar with most of these authors and pieces (versions of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, etc.) and won't need the book. Those unfamiliar with the genre, or shopping for a gift for a younger reader, however, will find it a handy introduction to a rich, delightful form. (illustrations, not seen) --
Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
