Women Writing Wonder

Image citation: Amazon. (n.d.). [Women Writing Wonder: An Anthology of Subversive Nineteenth-Century British, French, and German Fairy Tales (The Donald Haase Series in Fairy-Tale Studies)]. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https://www.amazon.com/Women-Writing-Wonder-Subversive-Nineteenth-Century/dp/0814345018/ref=sr_1_1?crid=TITGLBEWS462&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4ZOYMTQFVbfD4qUomykhgLlePuR753gmET41oPUny06TfBm3a4ThSTVs7PLGn-wLvfEWBNP4IuUM9Xv6Lw_AZ5bdwm9pMRjhzj_tRhp8k5Mfurx3ApSQLRVInkfZa0zfA1U9SaSKMZvJ-IfX8oEfwQlbke-GRIFVCkwtKLTSiqxmW-GRZnIJ4-pyW6nTwXSPvLuKOHmq1TbrsFn3WXPtvDYSPrEEg7sKzW6Er0_vQLg.QMl4zNrUHNcVvvW8wE8ywYPNgK5qG_smj5LDeGV-d9I&dib_tag=se&keywords=WOmen+Writing+Wonder&qid=1733184899&sprefix=women+writing+wonder%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1. 

Many historical fairy tales from female writers have been long forgotten, especially those from nineteenth-century Europe. Thankfully, at least four scholars have put together an anthology to change that.

Women Writing Wonder compiles nineteenth-century tales from women writers in three sections: tales from France (translated by Anne E. Duggan and Adrion Dula), tales from Germany (translated by Julie L. J. Koehler and Corrina Peet), and tales from England (explained by Shandi Lynne Wagner). 

Of these sections, the tales from France engaged me the most. The first of these stories, "Pamrose; or, The Palace and the Cottage" was quite cute, with Pamrose's attachment to her father, cousins, and country life. I also enjoyed "The Story of Little Clotilde" with the titular character meeting fairies on the Island of Happy Children (which is somewhat similar to Pleasure Island in "Pinocchio"). "The Rose Cloud" also interested me, but it was harder to understand because of the complex cloud-knitting motif.

The German and English tales challenged me more, but I have a few favorites. "Princess Elmira," for instance, enchanted me with the short story of a girl who reunites with her mother. From the English section, "Seeds of Love" serves as a cautionary tale for wanting the love of a prince. Plus, "The Virgin Soil" retold "Little Red Riding Hood" in a forced abusive marriage context (making it my favorite).

Not only does Women Writing Wonder compile fairy tales, but it also gives historical and ideological context behind them. Many of the women writing (or contributing) these tales held feminist perspectives despite their patriarchal societies. 

Women Writing Wonder, alongside giving me new stories to adapt, taught me about feminism in nineteenth century France, Germany, and England. For instance, France, unlike liberal Germany and England, had a patriarchal society under the rule of Napoleon. 

Not all the tales were the most engaging, but some were. Either way, Women Writing Wonder is a must-read for fans of feminist fairy tales. 

Have you read Women Writing Wonder? What do you think about it?