English Fairy Tales

English fairy tales

English fairy tales is a book containing a collection of 41 fairy tales retold by Flora Annie Steel. It was illustrated by Arthur Rackham and published in 1918 by Macmillan and Co., Limited, London.

Context

Flora Annie Steel (1847–1929) was a British author known for her contributions to literature, particularly in the field of Indian history and culture. One of her earlier works, Tales of the Punjab (1894), was a collection of folktales from the Punjab region of India. She compiled and retold these stories, offering readers a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.

Arthur Rackham was an English book illustrator and a prominent figure during the Golden Age of British book illustration. This era lasted from 1890 to the onset of World War I and its emergence was fueled partly by the widespread popularity of illustrated books as Christmas gifts. Arthur Rackham significantly contributed to this period by providing illustrations for numerous Christmas books.

Most of the contents of English Fairy Tales drew from Joseph Jacobs' collections, specifically English Fairy Tales (1890) and More English Fairy Tales (1894). Notably, 37 of the tales featured in Flora Annie Steel's book also appeared in Jacobs' collections. Joseph Jacobs gathered these tales from a combination of written sources and oral traditions.

In More English Fairy Tales, Jacobs describes certain tales within the collection as skillfully constructed pieces of nonsensical storytelling, intentionally put together to amuse children. He elaborates by noting that the presence of humor characterizes the English folk tradition.

Contents

The collection consists of a series of traditional folk tales and legends that were passed down through generations in England. It specifically features the British version of the fairy tales, thereby setting it apart from other renditions. This theme is evident from the very first tale, St. George of Merrie England. This tale follows the adventures of an English knight who embarks on a journey performing heroic deeds to save a princess from a dragon as one of the Six Champions of Christendom. The Six Champions include knights from France, Spain, Italy, and Wales, representing countries that joined forces in the First World War to fight against Germany.

Reception

The book contains a total of 58 illustrations, with 16 color plates and 42 black and white illustrations by Arthur Rackham, complementing the narratives by bringing to life the magical world of the tales. It has been published in numerous editions, including deluxe limited editions signed by Arthur Rackham. The inclusion of Rackham’s illustrations was important for the book’s success and elevated its reception.

According to a review by The Bookman: "It would be difficult to find a more fascinating and artistically produced volume than the collection of English Fairy Tales retold by Mrs Flora Annie Steel... It is a sumptuous feast and a gift that will be prized by all art-loving and imaginative children".

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a multitude of publishing houses emerged, primarily concentrated in Great Britain and the United States. However, the onset of World War I brought about inflation, leading to resource rationing and consequently a reduced book production. The aftermath of the war, later coupled with the Great Depression, further exacerbated the situation, causing a decline in demand for both fairy tales and books in general.

A few years later, fairy tales quickly gained popularity again. Walt Disney, being aware of the public's desire for an escape from the turmoil of a war-torn and economically strained world, strategically capitalized on the circumstances. In 1937, he introduced an era of fairy tale movies.

In the aftermath of World War II, the book industry underwent a renaissance, marked by fairy tales being available in paperback format. Parents invested in these stories to both amuse their children and teach valuable lessons of hope, kindness, and good over evil. Fairy tales experienced widespread recognition, gaining fame for their dual role as both educational tools and sources of entertainment.

Since the publication of English Fairy Tales by Flora Annie Steel in 1918, the topic of fairy tales has evolved and adapted to changing cultural and literary contexts. Over time, the fascination with fairy tales and folklore has endured, and subsequent generations have continued to find value in these traditional narratives. The perspectives on folklore, gender roles, and cultural representation have shifted, leading to numerous retellings and adaptations of the stories.

Over a century later, the Christmas editions continue to be sought after by collectors.

In total, Flora Annie Steel published about 30 books, some of which were translated into other languages.