Synopsis: 52 stories from a range of historical and geographic traditions. Sections group tales together by theme or juxtapose variations of individual tales, inviting comparison and analysis across cultures and genres. An accessible section of critical selections provides a foundation for readers to analyze, debate, and interpret the tales for themselves. An expanded introduction by the editors looks at the history of folk and fairy tales and distinguishes between the genres, while revised introductions to individual sections provide more detailed history of particular tellers and tales, paying increased attention to the background and cultural origin of each tale. A selection of illustrations from editions of classic tales from the 19th to the 21st centuries is also included. New to this edition: Criticism section expanded from 5 to 9 articles. More modern and cross-cultural variations on classic tales like Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. Expanded discussion of illustrations. Section on Juxtapositions compares classic and modern tales with related themes.