This is a series of links to weekly posts that illustrate the vitality and
strength of heroines within the classic European fairy tale tradition. Most of
the stories I’ve chosen have been been in print for well over a hundred years,
available to everyone – yet most are unknown to the general public. Tatterhood,
Lady Mary and the Mastermaid are hardly household names like the Sleeping
Beauty and Snow-White, while ‘The Woman who Went to Hell’ and Margaret from ‘Simon
and Margaret’ are likely to be new even to the most die-hard of fairy tale
enthusiasts. At least I think so! I hope there’ll be surprises for everyone.
The first post is an introductory essay in which I set out my passionate
conviction that the heroines of fairy tales are people to be reckoned with.
Whether princesses, poultry-maids or peasants, they succeed by all
sorts of means: by magical skills, sharp wits, courage, kindness and patience;
by tenacity, endurance, grit, determination: and occasionally even by fighting. I’d like to convince you also that fairy tales are often funnier - and bawdier - than
19th century translations might lead you to suppose. And I preface each fairy tale with a brief
introduction of its own.
Here are the links. Read on! I hope you’ll enjoy them.
Strong Fairy Tale Heroines - Introduction
#1: Simon and Margaret - Ireland, Co. Galway
#2: The Three Sisters - Welsh Romany
#3: The Princess in Armour - Romania
#4: The Groac'h of the Isle of Lok - Brittany
#5: The Three Princesses - Hungary
#6: Gilla of the Enchantments - Ireland, Co. Mayo
#7: The Mastermaid - Norway
#8: Aschenputtel - Germany (Hesse)
#9: Ederland the Poultry-Maid - Denmark
#10: Whuppitie Stoorie - Scotland
#11: Fundevogel - Germany (Hesse)
#12: The Woman Who Went to Hell - Ireland, Co Donegal
#13: The Nettle Spinner - Belgium
#14: Mr Fox - England
#15: Tatterhood - Norway
#16: The Well at the World's End - Scotland
#17: The Water King and Vasilissa the Wise - Russia
#18: Sanntraigh, or The Woman of Peace - Scotland
#19: The Little Seamstress - Armenia
#20: Maol a Chliobain - Scotland (Argyll)
#21: Prince Lindworm - Denmark
#22: The Flying Head - Russia
#23: Cap o' Rushes - England
#24: He Who Laughs At Others, Others Shall Laugh At Him - Armenia
#25: Fair, Brown and Trembling - Ireland
#26: Kate Crackernuts - Scotland (Orkney)
#27: The Twelve Huntsmen - Germany (Hesse)
#28: The Hen is Tripping in the Mountain - Norway)
#29: Prince Hlini and Signy - Iceland
#30: Vasilisa the Priest's Daughter - Russia
