Classic Fairytales - Thing's You Probably Didn't Know!

A couple of things that I have learned entering my second year of my Literature degree is this. Fairy tales freaking rock. My tastes in literature almost always borders on the inappropriate, and the 'out there' kind of stories, the usual 'happily ever after' scenarios were OK to read, but they were just that. OK.

Meet Year 2 of University English Literature, and all of a sudden you are dealing with lustful fathers who have designs on their daughters, child abandonment, cannibalism and gore all wrapped up in tales that span the entire globe. It's a smack in the face compared to the beloved Disney Classics. I have been revelling in it!

Full disclosure, this course wasn't one that I would have opted to take if my other module hadn't fallen through. The above mentioned lack of interest in the 'happily ever after' , coupled with my disappointment of the preferred module not going ahead, I was apprehensive to say the least. I am so glad to have been proven wrong. Fairy tales, the original stories, stories from the mouths of the people before it was written down, and watered down, and tampered down, are completely nuts. Add in some Freudian, psychoanalytical theory and it is a veritable feast for those of us who thought fairy tales weren't cool to enjoy as an adult. Something only for children? Non my friend, you would be so, so wrong. These stories are most definitely not for children.

I am currently reading the Norton Critical Edition of Fairytales (Second Edition) by Maria Tatar. It includes both tales and criticism from academics who have made these stories their life work. I was thinking of creating a vlog of these short stories to share them with you via the wonders of video, but I haven't decided if I'm brave enough to video myself yet, or if it is even of interest to anyone except extreme book nerds and lovers of the weird. I'll wrestle with that one a little while longer.

Bussi xx