Not a Princess, But (Yes) There Was a Pea, and Other Fairy Tales to Foment Revolution
Note on signed books: Personalized inscriptions from the author are only possible with preorders. Cover artist Dan Sauer is available to personalize any order. If you are ordering a signed copy, please indicate in the notes section if you would like a personalized inscription.
ONCE UPON A TIME, WHAT IF...
What if the Sleeping Beauty left to make her own life?
What if Bluebeard’s wife seized the opportunity for justice?
What if the witch truly loved Rapunzel?
What if Snow White learned the virtues of right rulership from the dwarves, and Jack learned wisdom from the giants?
In this provocative collection, Rebecca Buchanan (author of Asphalt Gods) re-examines classic fairy tales from Mother Goose, Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, and other sources with a sharp and modern eye, deepening the impact of the original tales and often inverting the perceived moral. These re-imaginings show us not-so-noble frog princes, environmentalist knights, wicked witches revealed as wise women, the cynical politics of fairy godmothers, and unexpected humanity in the hearts of monsters.
Dig Deeper
Twist The Tales Around
Fairy Tales Are Revolutionary
Trade Paperback - 6 x 9 inches - 170 pages
Illustrated throughout with classic art by Harry Clarke, Walter Crane, Gustave Doré, Albrecht Dürer and others.
“. . . beautifully rich imagery and twists you won’t see coming . . . there’s both pain and triumph in these fairy tale renderings, where villains are the heroes and heroes more complex than you could ever imagine. Don’t try to put this book down once you start it. Instead make yourself comfortable and settle in. It’s quite a ride.” —Gerri Leen, Rhysling and Pushcart Prize nominated poet
“There is an ineffable quality to Rebecca Buchanan’s poems, which are laden with subtle rhythmic devices to beguile the reader—poetic witchcraft of the highest order. These are the childhood fairy tales familiar to all, yet viewed from unfamiliar, kaleidoscopic angles, the effect of which is startling and revelatory. You will never look at these stories the same way again.” —Adam Bolivar, Author of The Ettinfell of Beacon Hill and Ballads for the Witching Hour
“A brilliant collection exploring the darkest sides of humanity through a fairy tale lens, Not a Princess leads you down a memory lane paved with gilded bones and bloody stones. Lyrically and viscerally marrying feminist, social, and environmental horror, Rebecca Buchanan’s crafty cats, weary wolves, and disgruntled daughters will captivate you with razor-sharp verses and sumptuously twisted imagery. A perfect stormy evening read.” —Jessica McHugh, Bram Stoker & Elgin Award nominated author of A Complex Accident of Life
“. . . Profoundly just and keenly concerned with the natural world, these are the old stories as we’ve never read them before and need to read them now, full of wisdom and warning for the perilous times we live in. A courageous and important collection.” —Ceallaigh S. MacCath-Moran, Folklore PhD Candidate and Author of the Forthcoming Play The Belt and the Necklace
". . . these aren’t mere updates of popular tales—rather, they are thoughtful and astutely crafted revisions, comprised of the rich language and archetypal symbolism of the Märchen, and Contes des fées of eld, but written from the perspective of a socially progressive 21st century writer.” —Manuel Arenas, Author of Book of Shadows: Grim Tales and Gothic Fancies
CONTENTS:
Author’s Note
Source Tales
Beware the Goose Mother
After the Kiss
The Ashes of Her Feet
As the Mirror Sees It
The Bone Tree
The Cobblers
Consequences
the dark above
The Daughters of the King
Enchanted Forest News
The Flower Bride
The Frog
The Giant’s Widow
Gold
The Green Knight
Into the Woods
Jack and the Four Giants
The Last Wife
Matches
Not a Princess, But (Yes) There Was a Pea
Pigs and Wolves
The Secret of the Cat’s Success; or, Lying Is Easy, Just Tell Them What They Want to Hear
Seven
The Sisters and the Knife
the slippers
Spindles
The Spinner of Wonderful Things
Swans’ Song
A Tale Told in Five Voices, or The Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold
There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe: An Analysis, with “Questions”
we, the dancers
The Witch in the Woods
The Witch, To Her Daughter Rapunzel
The Wolf’s Tale