A collection of classic Victorian fairy tales by such authors as John Ruskin, Charles Dickens, and Oscar Wilde.

Funny, ribald, riduculous, and romantic illustrated wives' tales from around the world feature female protagonists from the silly to the cruel.

. . . Around the castle there grew a hedge of thorns, which every year grew higher, and at last there was nothing more to be seen, not even the flag upon the roof. But the story of the beautiful sleeping princess, Briar Rose, went about the country so that from time to time the King's sons came and tried to get through the thorny hedge . . . So goes the German fairy tale of Briar Rose, the Sleeping Beauty ... an old, old tale, yet so potent that few...

A bear, befriended by two sisters during the winter, returns one day to reward them royally for their kindness.

In her haste to flee the palace before her fairy godmother's magic loses effect, Cinderella leaves behind a glass slipper. Photographs show the dogs dressed up as the characters in the fairy tale.

A little girl meets a hungry wolf in the forest while on her way to visit her grandmother. Photographs show the characters depicted as dogs.

A clever cat wins for his master a fortune and the hand of a princess.

A young Russian nobleman falls in love with the legendary Firebird, a magical hawk whose wings are feathered in flame. He sets out to find the bird, in fact an enchanted maiden who has been waiting for true love to break the spell that holds her captive. By the author of Sacred Ground.

After his wife's untimely death, a powerful sorcerer dedicates his life to seeking revenge against all womankind. He turns his captives into beautiful swans-who briefly regain human form by the fleeting light of the moon. Only Odette, noblest of the enchanted flock, has the courage to confront her captor. But can she gain the allies she needs to free herself and the other swan-maidens from their magical slavery? A monumental tale of loyalty and betrayal,...

Although mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella meets her prince with the help of her fairy godmother.