Overview

How have fairy tales from around the world changed over the centuries? What do they tell us about different cultures and societies? Spanning chronologically from the third millennium BCE through to the seventh century CE and beyond, and geographically from the Mediterranean to the Near East and Asia, this book explores the earliest known evidence of familiar folk tales and fairy tales in the ancient world. Drawing on sources including the Rig Veda, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Old Testament, the Westcar Papyrus, and the Odyssey, this volume ranges from epic poetry to drama, to fables and proverbs, and from ancient histories to novels. Scholars in Classics, Anthropology, Folklore, and Asian Studies examine the dissemination, adaptation, and cross-cultural interactions of early forms of folk tales, providing new insights into how they functioned and circulated across different societies. An essential resource for scholars and students of ancient literature, history, and cultural studies, this book explores topics including: forms of the marvelous, gender and sexuality, monsters and the monstrous, the significance of spaces, socialization and moral messaging, and the uses and abuses of power. A Cultural History of Fairy Tales (6-volume set) A Cultural History of Fairy Tales in Antiquity is also available as a part of a 6-volume set, A Cultural History of Fairy Tales, tracing fairy tales from antiquity to the present day, available in print, or within a fully-searchable digital library accessible through institutions by annual subscription or on perpetual access (see www.bloomsburyculturalhistory.com). Individual volumes for academics and researchers interested in specific historical periods are also available digitally via www.bloomsburycollections.com.

Full Product Details

Author:   Professor Debbie Felton (University of Massachussetts, Amherst, USA)
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Academic
Dimensions:   Width: 16.80cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 24.20cm
Weight:   0.440kg
ISBN:  

9781350593862

ISBN 10:   1350593869
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   13 November 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   To order  

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations List of Tables Series Preface List of Abbreviations Introduction: Ancient Analogues for Modern Tales Debbie Felton 1. Forms of the Marvelous: Prodigies and Wonders in Antiquity Graham Anderson 2. Adaptations: Transmission, Translation, and Diffusion of Ancient Tales Emanuele Lelli 3. Gender and Sexuality: Reading Females, Males, and Other in Asian Folktales Serinity Young 4. Human and Non-Human: The Animal in Greek and Roman Fable Kenneth Kitchell 5. Monsters and the Monstrous: Ancient Expressions of Cultural Anxiety Debbie Felton 6. Spaces: Borders, Fringes, and Thresholds in the Ancient Folktale Julia Doroszewska and Janek Kucharski 7. Socialization: Fairy Tales as Vehicles of Moral Messages Dominic Ingemark and Camilla Asplund Ingemark 8. Power: Uses and Abuses of Authority in Ancient Tales Debbie Felton Notes Bibliography Notes on Contributors Index

Reviews

A Cultural History of Fairy Tales in Antiquity is a valuable resource for scholars and students interested in the intersections of folklore, cultural history, and classical studies. The volume’s innovative approach and rich interdisciplinary insights make it a significant contribution to the study of fairy tales and their enduring relevance. * Journal of Classics Teaching *

Author Information

Debbie Felton is Professor of Classics at the University of Massachussetts, Amherst, USA

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