French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Brière-Haquet, Politique des contes. Il était une fois Perrault aujourd’hui…
Other Literary Studies
Alice Brière-Haquet, Politique des contes. Il était une fois Perrault aujourd’hui…
Paris, Classiques Garnier, coll. "Perspectives comparatistes", 2021
EAN : 9782406117841
172 p.
Price: 23 EUR.
Overview:
The parodic rewriting of fairy tales is a particularly vibrant phenomenon today. However, this practice is by no means exclusive to the contemporary era: Charles Perrault himself, through the framing device of the old storyteller, offered seemingly naive narratives that invited readers to decode the underlying political discourse.
Fairy tales have long served as vehicles for social commentary and ideological critique. While contemporary literature frequently employs parodic rewriting to subvert traditional motifs, this critical approach is deeply rooted in the origins of the genre. Charles Perrault established a sophisticated tradition where seemingly naive narratives functioned as deliberate political discourse, inviting discerning readers to decode hidden meanings beneath the surface of marvellous plots.
This scholarly volume bridges historical traditions and modern creative practices, making it an essential resource for students and researchers interested in comparative literature, narratology, and the enduring legacy of classical fairy tales. By examining how contemporary authors adapt these canonical texts, the study sheds light on the evolving relationship between popular storytelling, authority, and cultural critique across generations.