Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Folktales and Fairy Tales, edited by Donald Haase. 3 vols. 1,160p. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2008. 978-0-313-33441-2; 2007-31698. $299.95.

Both folk and fairy tales draw from a tradition of shared antecedents and hold several basic elements in common: episodic structures based on motifs; indefinite, fictional and supernatural settings; and heroes or heroines who gain rewards by overcoming obstacles. Scholars often associate folktales with an oral tradition of storytelling and ascribe a literary basis for fairy tales. However, considering the obvious interchange that has occurred between these two story forms, particularly since the advent of printing and the flourish of fairy tale writing at the end of the seventeenth century, maintaining such distinctions is a dubious business. Nonetheless, many earlier folklore scholars, and their reference works, focused of the seemingly more authentic oral traditions of folk tales. However, for the past 40 years, scholars have given increasing attention to the development of the literary fairy tale and its influence in literature, art and popular culture. This new encyclopedia represents a synthesis of that recent scholarship. From animal grooms to women warriors, many of its 670 entries examine the motifs, themes and character archetypes frequently found in both folk and fairy tales. Others explore national or linguistic traditions of storytelling. Still more distinguish the many genres, from bawdy and cautionary tales to parables, riddles and urban legends. The particular strengths of this guide are the many entries tracing the literary development of fairy tales from ancient and medieval models through the work of Catherine Bernard and Charles Perrault to the modern adaptations of Jane Yolen and Neil Gaiman. From the Brothers Grimm to Jack Zipes, the roles of collectors, editors and scholars are amply recognized. So too is the work of artists, composers, book illustrators and filmmakers who have translated fairy tales to other media and thus extended their influence to a wider audience. Numerous cross-references, a detailed index and suggested readings guide further research. The result is an excellent overview of a tremendously influential literary genre, which is recommended for both public and academic libraries.
—John R.M. Lawrence