The "tale as old as time," in versions from across the centuries and around the world -- published to coincide with Disney's live-action 3D musical film starring Emma Watson, Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor, Audra McDonald, Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, Dan Stevens, and Emma Thompson

Nearly every culture tells the story of Beauty and the Beast in one fashion or another. From Cupid and Psyche to India's Snake Bride to South Africa's "Story of Five Heads," the partnering of beasts and beauties, of humans and animals in all their variety -- cats, dogs, frogs, goats, lizards, bears, tortoises, monkeys, cranes, warthogs -- has beguiled us for thousands of years, mapping the cultural contradictions that riddle every romantic relationship.

In this fascinating volume, preeminent fairy tale scholar Maria Tatar brings together tales from ancient times to the present and from a wide variety of cultures, highlighting the continuities and the range of themes in a fairy tale that has been used both to keep young women in their place and to encourage them to rebel, and that has entertained adults and children alike. With fresh commentary, she shows us what animals and monsters, both male and female, tell us about ourselves, and about the transformative power of empathy.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,800 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

• We started tracking this book on June 28, 2016.
• This book was $11.99 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 82 times in the past 3,338 days.
• The current price of this book is $7.99 last checked 3 hours ago.
• This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past year is $4.99.
• The lowest price to date was $4.99 last reached on June 29, 2025.
• This book has been $4.99 7 times since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was $13.99 last reached on November 14, 2022.
• This book has been $13.99 9 times since we started tracking it.

• Literature & FictionClassicsClassics
• Literature & FictionMythology & Folk TalesFairy Tales

• Publication Date: March 7, 2017
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 234 Pages
• File Size: 15 KB