Now that I've read this little collection, I can say that the publishers are missing the target audience and should repackage this for marketing it to the right age range: elementary to middle schoolers. This is by no means a book for older readers, and definitely not for knowledgeable fairy tale lovers.

I loved learning more about these female authors whose voices have been overlooked historically. I definitely saw the way their stories influenced the fairy tales that so many are familiar with. This was such a wonderful way to share these women's art and give insight into the past. I liked that this was part history lesson and part sharing of the fictional tales that created fairy tales. The illustrations were beautiful and it would be really nice to own a hard copy. I'll be on the lookout for it when it's published.

Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance gives us a detailed (or at least as detailed as possible) look at seven women writing in the salons of 17th century Paris and the environment that grew out of those famed gatherings. The lives, personalities, triumphs, and challenges of these conteuses are explored in personable, conversational biographies.

I particularly enjoyed the layout of this book. Each section gives a few pages of biography followed by one or two stories by the writer discussed. After reading several books that either focus entirely on the writers and assume a reader's familiarity with their work or that give the stories with a brief paragraph about the authors at the end I truly appreciated being able to have such a nice balance of each set side by side. This presentation was particularly important to me as I was reading an e-copy of the work that makes flipping back and forth inconvenient. I also have to highlight the beautiful illustrations that were in my version. Fairy tale collections have a strong tradition of wonderful, enchanting artwork and I was overjoyed to see that this book, while focused on giving an historical look at the writers presented, was also allowed to keep this tradition of including artwork that helps bring the stories to life.

I've had a long interest in fairy tales, but for many years the narrative I kept coming across was that these stories were universal tales whose oral origins were lost to the mists of time and retellings. I'm excited to see more writers and historians pointing out that many of these stories do indeed have individual authors whose names we can know. Many of these stories grew out of particular cultural and social environments that we can study and learn more about. While there may be much that has been lost, and the section on Louise D'Auneuil highlights just how hazy things can get, there is much that can be known and these writers of the past deserve to be known by name.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I gave 'Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance' by Jane Harrington 3 stars. While I found the information presented to be fascinating, I couldn't help but feel that this book wasn't entirely for me. Perhaps someone younger or with a different reading preference might appreciate it more. As a lover of fairy tales, I was grateful for the opportunity to explore the origins and stories behind these timeless classics. The way the fairy tales were retold and presented was engaging, and I appreciated the insight into the women who created these stories. This book is a great resource for understanding the historical context and female authors who contributed to the fairy tale genre. Overall, it's a worthwhile read for those interested in the subject matter, even if it didn't quite resonate with me

Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance shares the history and stories of women writers who enhanced their craft in the French salons of the 1700s. These “fairy tales” were their artistic resistance to the role of women in aristocratic society. Author, Jane Harrington focuses on seven writers (Marie-Catherine D’Aulnoy, Henriette-Jolie Murat, Charlotte-Rose La Force, Marie-Jeanne L’Heritier, Catherine Berrard, Catherine Durand and Louise D’Auneul). Each section begins with a biography of the writer and is followed by a translation of two of their stories. The text is chatty, feminist and engaging. The illustrations by Vietnamese artist, Khow Le, is fluid, dreamy and magical. (Contrast this to Frank’s illustrations found in The Island of Happiness (2021) which often take a distressingly surrealistic tone.) Included is an extensive bibliography and index. Highly recommended.

So who started the fairy tale craze? It definitely was not the Brothers Grimm since they only compiled tales that they gathered from the country folks they interviewed. Charles Perrault is often credited as the "Father of Fairy Tales" but maybe he should be credited as "Mother since his most famous creation is Mother Goose. What is forgotten and not credited are the women who gathered in salons in the 1690s and later to write tales together. They called themselves conteuses and would set challenges for the types of tales to write. They would then come back together and compare tales.

In Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance, Jane Harrington provides brief histories of seven of these women and one or two of their tales. The women are Marie-Catherine D'Aulnoy, Henriette-Julie Murat, Charlotte-Rose La Force, Marie-Jeanne L'Heritier, Catherine Bernard, Catherine Durand, and Louise D'Auneuil. Also each tale has gorgeous illustrations created by Khoa Le. Harrington also provides a bibliography of sources so that interested parties can follow up on areas of interest.

If the reader enjoys fairy tales, especially ones not well known, do pick up Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance!

Thanks Netgalley and Black Dog & Leventhal Publishing for the chance to read this title!

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It had a lot of information about women that I had not heard of previously who contributed to the fairy tale genre but had been overlooked historically. Each woman had a very interesting story, and a lot of them ended up exiled or locked up for various "crimes" (being an educated, literate, and independent woman). I would like to have this as part of my fairy tale collection or as a coffee table book. The fairy tales were interesting but most of them were familiar as the women's male counterparts had popularized their own versions of these tales.

The art included in this book is so pretty. I love it. I kinda wish there was more. This book feels like two separate, shorter books were put together. One is a biography of different female authors, and the other is a collection of retellings. I wish the biographies were longer. I picked this book up for them. The retellings could have been an appendix or a separate book entirely.

What a fascinating subject and such a gorgeous book, even to read digitally! I will be doing so much more research on this topic - thank you Jane Harrington for awakening a passion in me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Artisan Books, Black Dog & Leventhal for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

*2.5 rounded up to 3*

I really wanted to enjoy this collection. I took a fairy tale and folklore class during my undergraduate years and it touched briefly on the more popular Grimm stories and their backgrounds and adaptations. I loved it but never needed to take a class similar to it since, but my point is that I've always been quite interested in fairy tale roots and where they really came from. I always assumed that the Grimm brothers got most of what they wrote from other writers, but it surprised me to read this and find that many fairy tales were originally conceived by women writers. However, while I enjoyed the history and the author biographies, I found the actual original stories to be repetitive even if I thought they were cool.

This book is definitely for someone younger or at least maybe reading with someone younger. It's still a fairly enjoyable read but a little too juvenile once you get passed the history which is what I wanted.

We often associate fairy tales with male collectors of stories like of The Brothers Grimm but Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance shows that many of these tales were originally created by women (or conteuses as they were known) and probably for the enjoyment of other women.

Harrington delves into the background and does an excellent job of telling each conteuse's story and how their real life may have impacted on the stories they wished to tell.
Each biographies is a fascinating and engaging read but when it came to reading some of the translation/interpretation of the selected fairy tales, I didn't feel like the style of writing flowed as easily as in it did in previous sections and perhaps the author could have done a little more show and a little less tell in each of the stories.
It is also worth noting that the illustrations throughout this book are beautiful and eye-catching and really helped me enjoy this book.

Overall I did enjoy reading this title and I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another biography from this author.



Thanks to Netgalley and Artisan Books for providing me with an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

Loved the concept of this book, even on my tablet I can see there are effects on each page making it look aged and the book has beautiful illustrations throughout it.

The chapters start with a biography of a 17th century French, Parisian, female writer, 7 conteuses in total, of fairy tales then an interpretation of at least one of their stories. The background being these stories and these women having been lost over time with only male descriptions of these old stories being in our collective consciousness. The idea that male writers wrote then rewrote these books again for example Hans Christian Anderson, Disney, Voltaire. It’s been really interesting talking to friends about this and I had never heard about any of the women or their lives.

It does feel like 2 books, one giving you the history of the author of the story then the story is described. It reminded me a bit of Women who run with wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes and as such the stories are not ones you can rush. I think it took me a year to read that book and I wonder if I would have enjoyed this book at that much slower pace. I didn’t do that with this book because I didn’t have a physical copy and I struggle to read slowly on my tablet. You can see many of the stories mirrored in modern day stories now, it did feel like the stories were adapted for our modern sensibilities and I didn’t enjoy them any less for that. There was a Poem included which while interesting I do think it probably does lose something in translation. I think overall I would have enjoyed it more if I could have read the books in their original French language but as I cannot read French this was the next best thing!

I think this is an excellent book if you want to understand the background to many of our folk tales and also the women authors who created them in the face of such adversity. I definitely thank god I wasn’t born in the 17th century.

Make sure you read to the end, there are a few pages that are coloured in on the tablet version, you are not at the end. If you finish then you will miss what I feel is the best book. The author also ends with a bibliography and an index which I love in any book. Definitely a book I want to buy a physical hard back copy of.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book (Advanced Reader Copy) for my consideration this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinions.

A fascinating history of the fairy tale that illuminates the overlooked role of women in their creation and development. I found the biographies and retellings equally fascinating-- a lovely collector's item!

The Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance was a wonderful mix of biographies and fairy tale retellings. It was fascinating to learn a bit about these women and to see how their work may have inspired some of history's most well-known storytellers.

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!