The Fairy Book The Best Popular Stories Selected and Rendered Anew

"The Fairy Book" by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik is a selection of timeless fairy tales, reimagined for today's readers but originally written in the 1800s. Drawn from famous stories by writers like Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, the book cherishes traditional tales, making them easy for modern readers to enjoy. It features stories like "Cinderella," "Beauty and the Beast," and "The Sleeping Beauty," showcasing themes of goodness, right and wrong, and magic. The book starts with an introduction, telling readers that the purpose of the collection is to entertain children and adults while teaching simple moral lessons. The start of "The Sleeping Beauty" shows a king and queen who are sad because they have no child, until a daughter is born, which begins a series of events involving fairy godmothers' gifts and a terrible curse from an unwelcome fairy. This sets the scene for a magical story of challenges, love, and bravery, which is common in fairy tales.