Post by @Ardeija@literatur.social

2026-09-23 11:21 UTC

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social I think it started even earlier: In 17th-century France, fairy tales were popular with the nobility (think of Madame d'Aulnoy's fairy tale collection), and France was very culturally influential in all Europe. You will encounter fairy tales specifically written (not only collected or transformed) by people high up in society - for example, there is a fairy tale (the German title is, funnily enough, "Zarewitsch Chlor") by no other than ... 1/2 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feenm%C3%A4rchen_der_Madame_d%E2%80%99Aulnoy @Colman@mastodon.ie

Replies (2)

@Ardeija@literatur.social 2026-09-23 11:24

@juergen_hubert@mementomori.social ... Catherine the Great, written for her grandson. It is quite didactic in nature, and has a noble protagonist (the title character). But, more importantly, the French tradition found much reception in the English-speaking world (Ma Mère l'Oye becoming Mother Goose, etc.), and, therefore, eventually provided the material for the fairy tales used in popular culture (Disney etc.), which is how many people in modern times first get to know them. 2/2 @Colman@mastodon.ie

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@SimonRoyHughes@beige.party 2026-09-23 12:00

@Ardeija@literatur.social @juergen_hubert@mementomori.social @Colman@mastodon.ie I think the gentrification/ ennoblement of fairy tales probably has something to do with French literary traditions competing with Germanic folk traditions. My opinion is not based on intentional study, though; but in my defence, I have read quite extensively.

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