French Fairytales

French fairy tales are some of the most potent and versitile of tales. Some of the best known fairy tales in the western world have been created or changed by the French.

Fairy tales have also been important to France. In the time before the French Revolution fairy tales were used as a literary protest. The "Cont de fey" or literary fairy tale began in the French "Salon" (a sort of literary circle for French Feminists and Revolutionist). From these Salons the tales spread to the general public, where they became extremely popular entertainment, for adults.

Bibliography

Zipes, Jack. 1989. Beauties, Beasties and Enchantments. New American Library; Markham, Ontario

This is a collection of original conte de fée (literary fairy tales). The introduction has lots of information on the history of fairytales in France and the begining of literary fairytales in France.