NOW AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER!!
Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance is the story of seven free-thinking salon writers of 17th-century France who wielded their pens as an act of protest and launched a sensation that swept across Europe long before the Brothers Grimm were even born. It was these women—conteuses, they called themselves—who coined the term “fairy tale.” The stories they wrote starred strong females on quests that mirrored the challenges the writers themselves faced under the patriarchy, specifically the misogynistic and homophobic reign of Louis XIV. Over the century-long spell that their tales were popular, however, forces would work to erase them, to cast them from the fairy tale canon in favor of male tellers. The headstrong princesses that had lived on the conteuses’ pages were replaced by the types we call classic: obedient Cinderella, naive Snow White, silent Little Mermaid, and flat-out unconscious Sleeping Beauty. But now the salon sisters’ forgotten characters are awakened in revamped tellings of a dozen of the original tales. Revived, too, are the authors themselves, in deeply researched histories that are tributes to the spicy, oft-harrowing lives of these women who shaped one of our most beloved literary traditions.
REVIEWS
In a STARRED review, Library
Journal says "Fabulous French fairy tales and the equally dramatic stories of their authors shine in this fascinating book by novelist Jane Harrington," and that WOMEN OF THE FAIRY TALE
RESISTANCE "belongs on every shelf of literature related to this art form."
From FIVE STAR REVIEWS: KT calls these "empowering, feminist stories of fantasy, romance, controlling own destiny. It's a joy to read!" Hilary says "I enjoyed the narration of Harrington , I thought she was witty and informative." Inkyhooves "particularly enjoyed the layout of this book... After reading several books that either focus entirely on the writers and assume a reader's familiarity...I truly appreciated being about to have such a nice balance." Kathy Shimpock calls the text "chatty, feminist and engaging."
BOOK EVENTS
ROANOKE VA BOOK LAUNCH!
RAINY DAY READS is sponsoring a public reading and book sale/signing of Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance
EVIE'S BISTRO & BAKERY, 1212 4th Street, SW--food, bar, cakes!
Thursday, August 21, 6:30pm
BUENA VISTA VA BOOK LAUNCH!
Reading, conversation, book sale & signing at
LEAF & LORE Plant Studio & Bookstore
2077 Magnolia Avenue, Buena Vista
Saturday, August 23, 2-4pm (drop-ins welcome)
LEXINGTON VA BOOK LAUNCH!
Soirée at THE BOOKERY--107 W. Nelson St.
Reading, signing, conversation, & snacks
Tuesday, August 26, 5-7pm (drop-ins welcome)