Island of Happiness: Tales of Madame d'Aulnoy

Madame dAulnoys seventeenth-century French fairy tales are interpreted by contemporary visual artist Natalie Frank in The Island of Happiness. The book juxtaposes poetic English translations with original, contemporary drawings by Frank, creating a feminist and surreal interpretation of classic narratives. The tales feature women exercising their independence and pushing against rigid social rules, with values of fidelity and sincerity over jealousy and greed. The Island of Happiness is an inspired integration of art and text, filled with seductive stories of transformation and enchantment.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 18 May 2021
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Marie-Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, also known as Madame dAulnoy, was a pioneer of the French literary fairy tale. Her work, although now rarely appearing outside of anthologies, was notably popular during her lifetime, and she is credited with coining the term "fairy tales" (contes des fées). The Island of Happiness presents eight of dAulnoy's magical stories, juxtaposing poetic English translations with a wealth of original, contemporary drawings by Natalie Frank, one of today's most outstanding visual artists. In this beautiful volume, classic narratives are interpreted and made anew through Frank's feminist and surreal images.

The stories in this collection present worlds where women exercise their independence and push against rigid social rules. Fidelity and sincerity are valued over jealousy and greed, though not everything ends seamlessly. Selected tales include "Belle-Belle," where an incompetent king has his kingdom restored to him through the constancy of an androgynous heroine. In "The Green Serpent," a heroine falls in love with a snake, is punished by a wicked fairy, and endures trials to prove her worthiness. And in "The White Cat," a young prince is dazzled by the astonishing powers of a feline.

Jack Zipes' informative introduction offers historical context, and Natalie Frank's opening essay delves into her aesthetic approaches to dAulnoy's characters. An inspired integration of art and text, The Island of Happiness is filled with seductive stories of transformation and enchantment.

Weight: 1070g
Dimension: 207 x 268 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691180243