The Island of Happiness - by Madame D'Aulnoy (Hardcover)

About the Book

Stories translated from French into contemporary English.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"Brilliant drawings and a powerful translation make Madame d'Aulnoy's seventeenth-century fairy tales feel just as immediate and necessary as when they were written. . . . Natalie Frank's stylized drawings work with the text to bring its heartwrenching and gruesome scenes to life, heightening the emotional impact of crucial moments."---George Hajjar, Foreword Reviews

"Madame d'Aulnoy's 17th-century French fairy tales are interpreted by the feminist visual artist Natalie Frank in surreal, contemporary images."-- "New York Times"

"The new illustrations by Natalie Frank are another triumph of this collection, and they heighten the potential for d'Aulnoy's radical stances. Frank's women are larger than life; they're clearly defined in a realist style while surrounded by surreal splashes of color and figures that blend into one another."---Megan Otto, Chicago Review of Books

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.