New Release: Tyme #1: Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison

(US/UK Links)

Tyme #1: Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison is released this week in both the US and UK. See Tyme #1: Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel (UK Link). It is obviously Rapunzel inspired but there's some Jack and the Beanstalk thrown in, too.

Book description:

In all of Tyme, from the Redlands to the Grey, no one is as lucky as Rapunzel. She lives in a magic tower that obeys her every wish; she reads wonderful books starring herself as the heroine; her hair is the longest, most glorious thing in the world. And she knows this because Witch tells her so---her beloved Witch, who protects her from evil princes, the dangerous ground under the tower, even unhappy thoughts. Rapunzel can't imagine any other life.

Then a thief named Jack climbs into her room to steal one of her enchanted roses. He's the first person Rapunzel's ever met who isn't completely charmed by her (well, the first person she's met at all, really), and he is infuriating-- especially when he hints that Witch isn't telling her the whole truth. Driven by anger at Jack and her own nameless fears, Rapunzel descends to the ground for the first time, and finds a world filled with more peril than Witch promised ... and more beauty, wonder, and adventure than she could have dreamed.

ATU 507 The Monster’s Bride: A Grateful Dead Tale Type

The Grateful Dead Tales From Around the World (SurLaLune Fairy Tale Series) is available for ordering and immediate shipping!

Last week I shared Grateful Dead Motifs and Tale Types and today I am going to discuss the ATU 507 tale type. While many people would assume that a tale with a Grateful Dead type would be scary and bloodthirsty, overall that is not true. Except for when one is discussing The Monster's Bride tales. These tales are the ones that started me on this years long journey of Grateful Dead discovery, for the tale type shares qualities also with The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Which is why Twelve Dancing Princesses Tales From Around the World is on sale this week for a dollar, down from its usual $4.99 in ebook format.

As you'll see below in the excerpt from my introduction, this tale type contains what is essentially a possessed, evil princess who causes the death of her bridegrooms on their wedding night. They die very badly but each man is willing to take the risk to gain her as a wife and her kingdom. It doesn't go well for any of them until our hero gains advice from a Grateful Dead traveling companion on how to survive the night. This is the one Grateful Dead tale type that would make a fine basis for a horror movie, for it includes a battle of good versus evil, and often an evil sorcerer, man-eating basilisks or dragons, and other horrors.

ATU 507 The Monster’s Bride tales begin like the standard ATU 505 tales with a young traveler providing a funeral for a stranger by paying for the corpse’s debts and/or funeral, often using his last resources to do so. Soon afterwards he is joined during his travels by a companion who helps him. They agree to divide all of their increases equally at the end of a period of time. At this point, the tale type diverges into two different main parts that were previously divided into AT 507A, AT 507B, and AT 507C.

In the first version, formerly AT 507A The Monster’s Bride, the dead man helps the hero aquire magic objects along their journey, usually from three giants. The hero then passes tests set forth by the princess to win her hand, although she is infatuated with a monster, usually an evil magician, ogre, or devil. The grateful dead man succeeds in killing the monster that controls the princess and purges the power that still ensorcels her with either a beating, burning, bathing or combination of these of either the evil magician or the princess herself.

In the second version, formerly AT 507B and AT 507C, all of the princess’s previous bridegrooms have perished during their wedding night. The grateful dead man counsels the hero to marry her anyway. During the wedding night, a serpent or dragon enters the bridal chamber to kill the hero. In some variants (AT 507C), the serpent actually emerges from the princess’s mouth. The grateful dead man enters their chamber and kills the serpent. Often he cuts the princess in two to remove the serpent or its enchantment upon her, thus saving her life, too, for she is resurrected from this violence.

These ATU 507 tales often include a division of spoils up to the physical dividing of the princess to test the hero’s honor. The hero begs for the lives of his wife and his children, if there has been issue from his marriage, offering all of his riches to the companion in exchange for their lives. Once he passes the test by showing his willingness to equally divide all of his gains, albeit very reluctantly, the grateful dead man reveals himself and gives all to the hero.

Most readers may be reminded of the judgement of Solomon to divide a person to solve a legal matter, but the hero’s challenge has arguably a stronger relationship to a different Bible story, that of Abraham’s near sacrifice of his son Isaac. Abraham is led to the brink of sacrificing his son to test his commitment, a test he passes after which his son is spared. An interesting discussion of the similarities between these stories can be found in William Hansen’s article, “Abraham and the Grateful Dead Man.” [Found in Folklore Interpreted: Essays in Honor of Alan Dundes]

Also, for readers interested in other popular tale types, primarily ATU 507, as well as some variants of ATU 505, are closely related to ATU 306 The Danced-out Shoes, more familiarly known as The Twelve Dancing Princesses. A previous SurLaLune anthology—Twelve Dancing Princesses Tales From Around the World (2011)—offered several ATU 507 tales closely related to ATU 306 that also appear in the present collection. Please consult the earlier book for further discussion of ATU 306 tales.

An example of ATU 507 can be read online on D. L. Ashliman's site at Sila Tsarevich and Ivashka with the White Smock. As you can guess from the title, the tale is from Russia.

Bargain Ebook: Twelve Dancing Princesses Tales From Around the World for $.99

For one week only, Twelve Dancing Princesses Tales From Around the World is on sale in ebook format for $.99. It is usually $4.99. This is the book that started me on my journey to The Grateful Dead Tales From Around the World (SurLaLune Fairy Tale Series) for it, too, contains some stories with Grateful Dead motifs. I will be discussing that a little later today as I continue my posts about The Grateful Dead Tales From Around the World (SurLaLune Fairy Tale Series).

Book Description:

The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a fairy tale known under several names such as "The Dancing Shoes," "The Worn-out Shoes," and "The Shoes that Were Danced to Pieces." The best known version of the tale comes from the Brothers Grimm and yet the tale remains relatively obscure in comparison to tales such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. However, it has been a popular favorite with fairy tale readers for decades, appearing in countless collections of tales, but rarely studied. In recent years, many books and even a toy collection, a movie and a musical have used the story as inspiration. This collection offers over twenty variants of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, some that are new English translations.

In addition, several Grateful Dead tales and Greek myths are presented as interesting comparisons to the tale. Sometimes the princesses journey to a version of hell, at other times they visit a version of heaven. Many of the stories are obviously related to each other and at times the relationship is tenuous. Some additional stories with similar motifs or elements are also included, illustrating that the elements of this tale are not as obscure as they first appear.

In the over fifty tales collected here, strange journeys are made, secrets are revealed, and curses are broken. Most-but not all-of the heroes and heroines live happily ever after. Either way, the journeys and the mysteries they solve provide fascinating visits to other realms. Whether you are a student of folklore or an armchair enthusiast, this anthology offers a diverse array of tales with a unifying theme that both entertains and educates, all gathered for the first time in one helpful collection.

New Release: The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

(US/UK Links)

The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey is released this week in both the US and UK (see The Girl at Midnight: UK Link). This one is more unusual, drawing inspiration from tales of the Firebird. I really like the US cover this time.

Book description:

Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, but if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.

New Release: Grimmtastic Girls #6: Goldilocks Breaks In

(US/UK Links)

Grimmtastic Girls #6: Goldilocks Breaks In by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams is released this week in the US and UK. See Grimmtastic Girls #6: Goldilocks Breaks In (UK Link).

Book description:

Once upon a time, in faraway Grimmlandia . . .

Goldilocks is so eager to make friends at Grimm Academy, she's even tempted to accept an invitation to join E.V.I.L. -- it's just nice to be included! But she doesn't want to be a villain. Can Goldie get inside the secret society and do some good?

Fairy Tales in Advertising: Gas Jeans: Prince Charming

Gas Jeans: Prince

Prince charming eater.

Okay, this one is just disturbing in a not so good way. And then a little funny. But I can't consider frogs for food ever since seeing The Muppet Movie at an impressionable age. Didn't happen to me with Charlotte's Web and pigs. But, The Muppet Movie insured I would never want to eat frog legs. I love Kermit.

Campaign info from Ads of the World:

It's true. Share your true experience at gasjeans.com
It's a multi-level campaign where the models are artists, actors, performers or normale people. Their stories are told on the web site and on the MaGasine, a catalogue with the stories and experiences of those young guys. The advert shows how everyday situations can be turned in particular and ethical actions with a sharp head line.

Advertising Agency: Attila&Co, Milan, Italy
Creative Director: Nuria Martin
Art Director: Jacopo Cinti
Copywriter: Marco Cetera
Photographer: Sergi Pons

Today Only: River Secrets (Books of Bayern Book 3) by Shannon Hale for $1.99

River Secrets (Books of Bayern Book 3) by Shannon Hale is on sale TODAY ONLY for $1.99 in ebook format. This is part of Hale's Goose Girl series although this title itself doesn't reinterpret a specific fairy tale. The book is usually in the $7.99 price range.

Book description:

From Newbery Honor winner Shannon Hale, the third book of Bayern doesn't disappoint. With subtle, timely undertones about peacekeeping, this is the story of the young warrior, Razo, who goes with a Bayern delegation to keep the peace with neighboring country, Tira. Characters from the previous books, Isi, Enna and Finn play major roles in Razo's coming of age, as Razo grows into a spy and a warrior and learns to value himself as both.

Grateful Dead Motifs and Tale Types

Yesterday I provided the short answer to the question, "So what is a Grateful Dead tale?" Today I provide the beginning of a longer answer. Here is another excerpt from my introduction to The Grateful Dead Tales From Around the World.

To further demonstrate the difficulties in finding one definitive Grateful Dead tale, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of the tale typing classification system. A motif is a distinctive and recurring idea or subject in a literary piece. In 1955-58, Stith Thompson published an extensive catalog of folklore motifs for classification purposes. The Grateful Dead motif (E341), as designated in his Motif Index of Folk Literature, appears in several tale types. The most common E341 motif is E341.1: Dead grateful for having corpse ransomed. This is the primary motif explored in the present volume of tales. Here are the grateful dead motifs classified by Thompson:

E341. The grateful dead.
E341.1. Dead grateful for having corpse ransomed. Corpse is being held unburied because of nonpayment of debts. Hero pays debt and secures burial of corpse.  
E341.1.1. Dead grateful for having been spared indignity to corpse. Kind man has given it burial.
E341.2. Dead grateful for food.
E341.3. Dead grateful for prayers.
E341.4. Dead grateful for clothes (shirt).
E341.5. Grateful priest returns to save gambler from devil.

In 1910, folklorist Antti Aarne created a system to classify types of Scandinavian folktales and published it with the title, Verzeichnis der Märchentypen (Index of Folktale Types). Stith Thompson later adapted the system in 1928 and again in 1961 with the title, The Types of the Folktale: A Classification and Bibliography which also incorporated the motif system he had developed in his Motif Index of Folk Literature. Although other folklore classification systems exist, this system has become the most widely used in folklore scholarship despite its flaws, especially its European-centric limitations. Tale types are designated in this system with the AT designation followed by a classification number, such as AT 505.

Norm Cohen in his introduction to the University of Illinois Press’ reprint (2000) of Gerould’s The Grateful Dead, provides a chart of the AT tale types present in Gerould’s list of Grateful Dead tales. A new chart based upon Cohen’s work is offered in the backmatter of this book. Generally, the AT 505-508 tales were grouped as The Grateful Dead, so a more detailed listing of those tale types, as well as the other tale types that most often include a Grateful Dead helper (E341.1), are listed here:

AT 505-508 The Grateful Dead
AT 505 Dead Man as Helper
AT 506 The Rescued Princess
AT 506A The Princess Rescued from Slavery
AT 506B The Princess Rescued from Robbers
AT 506* Prophecy Escaped
AT 506** The Grateful Saint
AT 507A The Monster’s Bride
AT 507B The Monster in the Bridal Chamber
AT 507C The Serpent Maiden
AT 508 The Bride won in a Tournament
AT 508* Dead Man Performs Difficult Tasks
AT 513 The Extraordinary Companions
AT 550 Search for the Golden Bird
AT 551 The Sons on a Quest for a Wonderful Remedy for their Father [Water of Life]
AT 554 The Grateful Animals

In 2004, Hans-Jörg Uther further revised the AT system, both streamlining and expanding it, with the publication of The Types of International Folktales: A Classification and Bibliography. The system has been adopted in current scholarship and now most tale typing includes the ATU designation to denote usage of the updated tale types. Uther’s changes affected several of the original AT tale types related to the Grateful Dead. The new designations now appear as:

ATU 505 The Grateful Dead
[AT 506-506B, 506** The Rescued Princess now ATU 505]
ATU 506* Prophecy Escaped [Not generally Grateful Dead]
ATU 507 The Monster’s Bride [Includes AT 507A-507C]
[AT 508 The Bride won in a Tournament now ATU 505]
ATU 513 The Extraordinary Companions
ATU 550 Bird, Horse and Princess
ATU 551 Water of Life
ATU 554 The Grateful Animals

The greatest difference between the two systems is that AT 505-508 is no longer designated as the Grateful Dead grouping with many of the previous tale types folded into the ATU 505 type. The table of Gerould’s tales and their tale types offered in this book’s end matter uses a blend of the AT and ATU systems to produce a more intricate breakdown of the different themes offered in Grateful Dead tales. Uther’s updated system is generally more logical for folklore studies as a whole, but it removes the nuances of some of the Grateful Dead AT tale types by combining them, making it more difficult for the scholar intent on examining the different themes that are found in Grateful Dead tales.

What Is a Grateful Dead Tale?

So what is a Grateful Dead tale? Today I provide the short answer. Here are the first few paragraphs of my introduction to The Grateful Dead Tales From Around the World. The rest of the introduction, and the entire book for that matter, provides the long answer.

THE Grateful Dead family of folktales has a captivating history. In the 21st century, the tale has virtually disappeared from popular consciousness, only kept on the fringes by the merits of sharing its name with a legendary band with a waning audience. Even that pop culture influence has prevented all but the most folklore-minded readers from realizing that the Grateful Dead is a collection of story elements with a history dating back a few millennia. It is safe to state that the tale’s plot used to be much better known and more easily recognized in the popular cultures of centuries past.

Generally, the story tells of a traveler who happens upon a corpse during his journeys. Usually the corpse remains unburied due to unpaid debts. The traveler pays off the dead man’s debts and/or pays for his burial, often with the last of his own meager funds. Although he is now destitute, the traveler continues his adventures and soon acquires a traveling companion in either human or animal form. The companion aids the traveler in some way. As a result, the traveler prospers and usually marries well. The companion later reveals that he is the soul of the long ago buried corpse and all debts between the two for services rendered have been paid by the traveler’s earliest sacrifices in providing a decent burial for the grateful dead man.

In the vagaries of folklore, the elements described above are often only a small part of a much longer story. Usually, the greatest portion of the tale is devoted to the hero’s journey which varies across many motifs including, as Donald Beecher explains [in his “Commentary: The Grateful Dead, or Bertuccio and Tarquinia” in The Pleasant Nights: Volume 2 by Straparola], “competing in tournaments, searching for the water of life, marrying a princess, solving riddles, or slaying dragons and ogres.”

One of the challenges when summarizing the tale is the lack of a touchstone version as well as the wide range of motifs found across variants. There are hundreds of variants of the above described tale, but not a single one stands out in modern public awareness. The best known version today could be considered “The Traveling Companion” by Hans Christian Andersen, by virtue of Andersen’s continued popularity, although it is not one of his most recognized tales. While Andersen invented several of his most popular tales, he also borrowed from traditional folklore for many of his stories. The Grateful Dead folklore tradition directly informed his “The Traveling Companion,” which is included in many compilations of Andersen’s tales.

Table of Contents for The Grateful Dead Tales From Around the World

Once again, The Grateful Dead Tales From Around the World--the 10th SurLaLune Fairy Tale Series release!-- will be officially released on 5/4/15. Any links I include may not be working yet, but they will be by then.

Today I am sharing the Table of Contents for the book. The book is 828 pages and stuffed full with Grateful Dead tales, discussions, and other miscellanea. Tomorrow I will start discussing the tale, starting with just what it is! I didn't know much when I started this project but now I know enough to be dangerously boring at a dinner party. But I will try to be interesting and brief instead. And, really, I don't think I've ever been boring at a dinner party. Just offer up the history of Sleeping Beauty variants--if you are in the right company--and you'll have people disturbed and talking for a good portion of the evening. Grateful Dead isn't as disturbing, but it is fascinating.

Table of Contents:

The Grateful Dead: An Introduction
by Heidi Anne Heiner i
Acknowledgements xxii
Notes About This Edition xxii

The Grateful Dead: The History of a Folk Story
by Gordon Hall Gerould

Introduction 2
I. A Review 4
II. Bibliography 8
III. Tales With the Simple Theme and Miscellaneous Combinations 24
IV. The Grateful Dead and the Poison Maiden 36
V. The Grateful Dead and the Ransomed Woman 56
VI. The Grateful Dead and the Water of Life or Kindred Themes 83
VII. The Relations of the Grateful Dead to the Spendthrift Knight, the Two Friends, and the Thankful Beasts 105
VIII. Conclusion 111

Grateful Dead Tales

1. The Book of Tobit
Bible 122
2. Simonides from Cicero’s On Divination
Ancient Greece 137
3. Pelops and Hippodamia
Ancient Greece 139
4. Chaim and the Dead Man’s Warning
Jewish 144
5. The Story of Thorsteinn, The King’s Son
Iceland 145
6. The Barra Widow’s Son
Scotland 150
7. The Red Etin
Scotland 158
8. Shaking-Head
Ireland 163
9. The King of Ireland’s Son
Ireland 171
10. The Snow, the Crow, and the Blood
Ireland 180
11. Beauty of the World
Ireland 186
12. Jack the Master and Jack the Servant
Ireland 192
13. The Grateful Dead
England 197
14. Sir Amadas
England 198
15. The Factor’s Garland
England 208
16. The Merchant’s Garland
England 215
17. The Turkey Factor
England 225
18. Jack and the Giants
England 233
19. Juan Dekos, the Blockhead (Tontua)
Basque (France) 246
20. Juan de Kalais
Basque (France) 250
21. The White Blackbird
Basque (France) 253
22. John of Calais
France 256
23. The Man of Honour
France 260
24. Princess Marcassa and the Drédaine Bird
France 265
25. The Shepherd, His Son, and the Archangel
France 273
26. Saint Corentin and the Young Man
France 276
27. The Grateful Dead
France 278
28. The Little Hunchback
France 281
29. The Companion
Norway 285
30. The Shopboy and His Cheese
Norway 294
31. The Travelling Companion
Denmark 296
32. The Three Pennies
Denmark 309
33. Of Pippin King of the Franks
Sweden 312
34. The Bird Grip
Sweden 313
35. The Mysterious Servant
Finland 319
36. The Spirit of a Buried Man
Poland 323
37. Sila Tsarevich and Ivashka with the White Smock
Russia 326
38. Hans and the Angel
Russia 330
39. Good Deeds Are Never Lost
Serbia 332
40. Bertuccio and Tarquinia
Italy 337
41. Guerrino and the Savage Man
Italy 345
42. Fair Brow
Italy 357
43. The Dead Man’s Gratitude
Turkey 361
44. The Story of the Grateful Corpse
Iran 364
45. The Dead Student’s Gratitude
Vietnam 368
46. The Grateful Ghost
Korea 369
47. The Grateful Spirit
Bahamas 371
48. The Bird of the Sweet Song
Mexico 372

Plays

49. The Old Wives’ Tale
by George Peele 376
50. The Fatal Dowry
by Nathan Field & Philip Massinger 405
51. The Fair Penitent
by Nicholas Rowe 477
52. The Insolvent: or Filial Piety, A Tragedy
by Aaron Hill 528

The History of Oliver and Arthur

53. The History of Oliver and Arthur 578

Additional Materials

54. Introduction to Ghost-Thanks
by George Stephens 696
55. The Reign of Asychis in Egypt
by Herodotus 701
56. The Roman Van Walewein (Gawain)
by Professor W. P. Ker 703
57. Tobit and Jack the Giant-Killer
by Francis Hindes Groome 708
58. The Merchant’s Daughter and the Prince of Al-Irak
Arabian Nights 722

End Matter

Additional Variants and Translations in English 760
Bibliography 767
Tale Types: Gerould’s List 775
Tale Types: Current Collection 785
Index 791

New Release: Stolen Magic by Gail Carson Levine

(US/UK Link)

Stolen Magic by Gail Carson Levine is released this week in both the US and UK. See Stolen Magic (UK Link). Levine is best known for her book Ella Enchanted. I know she has many fans here, so I wanted to share her newest book,

Book description:

The Newbery Honor author of Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine, weaves a thrilling tale of mystery in this companion to A Tale of Two Castles.

Elodie, the dragon detective Meenore, and the kindly ogre Count Jonty Um are all on their way to Elodie's home island of Lahnt. Elodie has barely set foot on land before she learns that the Replica, a statue that keeps her island's deadly volcano from erupting, has been stolen! If the Replica isn't found in three days, a mountain will be destroyed. And when Elodie ends up alone with a cast of characters each of whom may be guilty, she has to use her wits to try to unravel a tangled web of lies.

New York Times bestselling author Gail Carson Levine has written an imaginative, fast-paced mystery that will be enjoyed by fans of A Tale of Two Castles as well as those meeting Elodie, Meenore, and Count Jonty Um for the first time.

Sunday Funny: Some Fairy Tales from Tundra Comics

Some fairy tale comics today from Tundra Comics. The Hansel and Gretel one above is by far my favorite of the three. How about you?

Fairy Tales in Advertising: Fiat 500: Prince Charming

Fiat 500: Prince Charming

Fun going there. Fun coming back.

Okay, this is amusing and a little disturbing. But all in fun. Reminds me of the old Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog Looney Tunes cartoons where the characters clock in and out for the day. Always loved those. So does John the Hubby.

Campaign info from Ads of the World:

Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett Iberia, Spain
Executive Creative Director: Juan García-Escudero
Creative Director: Fernando Martín
Art Directors: Alejandro Hernán, Fred Bosch, Javier Martínez
Illustrator: Freeuno, B-ita
Group Account Director: Ricardo del Campo
Account Director : Eduardo Gómez-Escolar
Account Executive: Jaime Blanco

The Grateful Dead Tales From Around the World Release Date: 5/4/15

The Grateful Dead Tales From Around the World--the 10th SurLaLune Fairy Tale Series release!-- will be officially released on 5/4/15. Any links I include may not be working yet, but they will be by then. The ebook may be a little later, I'm not sure yet if it will be available simultaneously. This is the front cover and I have the book description below. The book is 828 pages and stuffed full with Grateful Dead tales, discussions, and other miscellanea.

Next week and in the weeks that follow, I will be posting quite a bit about The Grateful Dead folklore and all of its varieties. I always hope to whet your appetite to learn more, not bore you, so stay tuned and see if I manage that feat with this lesser known tale. I will keep the posts shortish so they won't be much to read in little bites.

Book description:

The Grateful Dead folktale type can be traced back at least 2,000 years. The tales of earthly rewards received for providing decent burial to the dead are both didactical and entertaining, with some of the earliest examples appearing in scripture and mythology. In modern times where laws heavily regulate burial practices, the tales have lost much of their social impact, but they still provide entertaining insight into past times.

In 1908, Gordon Hall Gerould wrote a monograph—The Grateful Dead: The History of a Folk Story—in which he discussed over 100 variants of the tale, a remarkable and diverse piece of scholarship that has received higher recognition in recent years. The full text of Gerould’s work is provided in this volume.

This collection also includes over 45 folktales and ballads with Grateful Dead motifs.

In addition, the full text of four English plays that use the motif are provided, including:

• The Old Wives’ Tale by George Peele
• The Fatal Dowry by Nathan Field & Philip Massinger
• The Fair Penitent by Nicholas Rowe
• The Insolvent: or Filial Piety, A Tragedy by Aaron Hill

Other pieces of scholarship and miscellanea are offered, too, including an English translation of The History of Oliver and Arthur, a fifteenth century French romance.

When combined in one convenient volume, these materials provide a fascinating overview of an often neglected folktale type for both the formal scholar and armchair enthusiast.

Preorder Available for Science Fiction Inspired Snow White: Jupiter Ascending

Jupiter Ascending (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD +UltraViolet Combo Pack) is now available for preorder for those who are curious about the film. I like to preorder because I often win on pricing that way when random drops take the price lower.

Gypsy over at Fairy Tale News did such a great job covering this film--for years until its final release!--that I didn't think to add anything about it here. I haven't seen it yet but I am curious. Science fiction is a love of mine and this film fascinates in theory but I am still cautious. But I plan to see it this summer when it is released to DVD. I have little interest in seeing most films in the theatre any more. And DVDs are so much more fun with the opportunities to watch extras and such in the comfort of my own home.

I am also curious about the Snow White elements to the story and how much they survived. Did anyone else see this and enjoy it? I know John my Beloved will be happy to watch it with me.