An enchanting selection of Madame d’Aulnoy’s seventeenth-century French fairy tales, interpreted by contemporary visual artist Natalie Frank
Marie-Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville (1650–1705), also known as Madame d’Aulnoy, was a pioneer of the French literary fairy tale. Though d’Aulnoy’s work now rarely appears outside of anthologies, her books were notably popular during her lifetime, and she was in fact the author who coined the term “fairy tales” (contes des fées). Presenting eight of d’Aulnoy’s magical stories, The Island of Happiness juxtaposes poetic English translations with a wealth of original, contemporary drawings by Natalie Frank, one of today’s most outstanding visual artists. In this beautiful volume, classic narratives are interpreted and made anew through Frank’s feminist and surreal images.
This feast of words and visuals presents worlds where women exercise their independence and push against rigid social rules. Fidelity and sincerity are valued over jealousy and greed, though not everything ends seamlessly. Selected tales include “Belle-Belle, ” where an incompetent king has his kingdom restored to him through an androgynous heroine’s constancy. In “The Green Serpent, ” a heroine falls in love with the eponymous snake, is punished by a wicked fairy, and endures trials to prove her worthiness. And in “The White Cat, ” a young prince is dazzled by the astonishing powers of a feline. Jack Zipes’s informative introduction offers historical context, and Natalie Frank’s opening essay delves into her aesthetic approaches to d’Aulnoy’s characters.
An inspired integration of art and text, The Island of Happiness is filled with seductive stories of transformation and enchantment.
About the author
Natalie Frank is an American artist based in New York City. Her work is held in numerous collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Blanton Museum of Art. Her books include
Tales of the Brothers Grimm,
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Princeton), and
O. Instagram @nataliegwenfrank
Jack Zipes is the editor of
The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm (Princeton) and
The Great Fairy Tale Tradition.
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