A very interesting read that makes you rethink so much of the childhood stories you know so well.
I love the historical twists and turns that keeps the book full of surprises.

This book felt like discovering a hidden chapter in the history of storytelling. Jane Harrington brings to light the lives of seven remarkable 17th-century French women—conteuses—who not only coined the term "fairy tale" but used their narratives to subtly challenge the societal norms of their time.

Each chapter offers a blend of biography and retold tales, revealing how these women wove themes of autonomy, resistance, and critique of the monarchy into their stories. The illustrations are enchanting, enhancing the immersive experience.

Reading this felt empowering; it's a tribute to the forgotten voices that shaped the fairy tales we know today. If you're interested in the intersection of literature, history, and feminism, this is a must-read.

Jane Harrington's "Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance" is not just a charming collection of forgotten fairy tales; it's a vital act of historical reclamation. Harrington deftly pulls back the curtain on the well-trodden stage of familiar narratives, revealing the vibrant and rebellious voices of the conteuses – a sisterhood of 17th-century Parisian women who, long before the Brothers Grimm, dared to wield the power of story.

The book's premise is immediately captivating: these women, largely young noblewomen trapped in stifling marriages under the iron rule of Louis XIV, found a subversive outlet in crafting their own fantastical narratives. Harrington meticulously unearths the biographies of seven of these pioneering writers, and their lives prove to be as compelling and dramatic as the tales they spun. We learn of their forced unions, their yearning for autonomy, and the subtle yet potent ways they wove their discontent and desires into their literary creations.

What makes "Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance" truly shine is the seamless integration of biography and storytelling. Harrington doesn't just present the tales; she contextualizes them within the lived experiences of their authors. This allows the reader to understand the feminist undercurrents, the critiques of patriarchal structures, and the longing for female agency that permeate these early fairy tales. Familiar elements found in later, more widely known versions of stories like "Rapunzel" and "Beauty and the Beast" take on new meaning when viewed through the lens of these women's struggles.

The twelve retold fairy tales themselves are a delight. Harrington's prose is engaging and accessible, capturing the whimsicality and enchantment of the genre while retaining the unique flavor and subtle rebelliousness of the originals. These are not the passive princesses of later adaptations; Harrington highlights the protagonists' agency, their control over their destinies, and the often gender-bending and empowering themes that defined these early narratives.

Beyond the compelling content, the book is a visual feast. The "stunning full color illustrations throughout" truly enhance the reading experience, bringing the magical worlds and the historical figures to life. The enchanting design makes this book a beautiful object in itself, a testament to the artistry and importance of the stories within.

"Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance" is more than just a history lesson or a collection of old stories. It's a celebration of female creativity, resilience, and the enduring power of narrative as a form of resistance. Jane Harrington has gifted us with a crucial piece of literary history, one that will undoubtedly make readers rethink everything they thought they knew about traditional fairy tales and the women who dared to dream beyond the confines of their time. This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in feminist history, literary origins, or simply a fresh and captivating take on the magic of storytelling.

This was an enjoyable read - Harrington's writing is very readable and it makes this an accessible read for those who are interested in this topic but may not have much knowledge/don't read much nonfic. With the accompanying fairytales, this makes for a lovely overview of the origins of many tales we are familiar with - I feel like this would be a lovely book for a mother and daughter to share.

I enjoyed the idea of this book more than the book itself. Like many kids I grew up reading fairy tales from Grimm, Disney, whoever else was publishing them … and they were always collected tales, but who were they collected from? To find out that these stories had actual authors who were neither the Brothers Grimm nor men at all was a bit surprising, but what was actually fun was reading the small biographies of some of the women who wrote these fairy tales.

Stories of clever, brave, daring princesses who did more than wait to be saved; stories where the woman outsmarted the villain and used compassion rather than conquest. However, while I enjoyed the biographies — which were well written with a sly, wry humor — the fairy tales were a little too familiar, if only because I've read so many variations of them.

I think this book would be perfect for a younger audience, to remind them that fairy tales and princesses came before Disney, that a princess can be her own rescuer, her own hero, and the star of the story. The lives of the women who wrote these stories, too, are inspiring. Women who stood up for themselves, who defied an oppressive authority in order to live the lives they wanted. Honestly, I’d have loved more biographies.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

I love fairytales and I am studying fairytales at university. This is a great read. I enjoyed the narration of Harrington, I thought she was witty and informative. I am glad to have something of women from fairytales, I wish there was more. I highly recommend!

What a gorgeous and enlightening book! A few years back I studied fairy tales as part of a uni course but I never read about salons or the women behind fairy tales decades before the Grimm Brothers and Perrault were on the scene. These women and the feminist origins of these stories deserve to be heard and it seems apt with many women fighting for their rights, 2025 is the year to tell them.
The beautiful illustrations compliment the short biographies of seven conteuses (female storytellers) and a sample of their stories. It is highly readable and leaves you mesmerised by their imagination and uplifted by the messages they have weaved within the tales. Forget Disney, these are the fairy tales we need to discover.

I can't wait to have a physical copy to own and reread.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the nonfiction stories of the women and I enjoyed their fairy tales as well. The illustrations are beautiful. I wish that there was more backstory on these ladies (not the fault of the author, just the fault of keeping good records of women in those days.) As with all anthology type books, some were more interesting than others.
Thank you Netgalley, Jane Harrington, the illustrator, and the publisher for this eARC.

Very interesting from what I could read! Unfortunately, the formatting was a little wonky which made some of the chapters feel either out of order or incomplete. I'm sure this will be fixed prior to publication and I very much look forward to picking up a copy in August so I can get the full experience.

If I could give this book 3.5 stars, I would. I found the information to be very intriguing, and I enjoyed the sarcasm and wit in Harrington's narrative voice.

The beginning of the book was really fantastic, but as pages went by, I became rather bored. More so with the fairy tales themselves than that of Harrington's commentary. The novels we read today are written so differently than those of old, and I think that evolution has come from past writings feeling less relatable or personable. That was truly the trouble I had in enjoying this read in it's entirety. I liked reading about each author's personal life and how it correlated with the stories they wrote, but the fairy tale inserts themselves didn't do it for me. I would be interested in reading more of Jane Harrington's work.

I love fairy tales, and there were ones here I'd never heard of, yet along read. I think that it was an excellent selection. I think I'd have liked more info about each of the authors and how they fit together to showcase more of the 'fairy tale resistance' as the book seemed to be more focused on the fairy tales than that aspect of it.