Includes bibliographical references (pages 389-394).
Examines the genre, cultural implications, and critical history of six classic fairy tales and presents twelve essays on the social origins and issues of gender and national identity present in many of these children's stories. Also explores tales by Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm, Oscar Wilde, Charles Perrault, Joseph Jacobs, Margaret Atwood, James Thurber, Roald Dahl, et al.