The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault

Born in Paris in the early 1600s, the author crafted a handful of stories that have become the foundation of Western fairy‑tale tradition. His charming blend of courtly wit and moral instruction gave ordinary folk tales a polished, literary sheen. The collection opens with a brief, lively introduction that sketches his restless youth and his love of novelty over strict academic convention.

Within the volume listeners will hear familiar favorites such as Little Red Riding Hood, the cunning Puss in Boots, and the melancholy Sleeping Beauty, alongside lesser‑known gems like Riquet with the Tuft and The Ridiculous Wishes. Each tale is accompanied by Harry Clarke’s atmospheric black‑and‑white illustrations, which add a vivid visual layer to the spoken word. The result is a compact yet richly textured journey into the world of early modern imagination.