Tale Summary
The tale begins with a wealthy family consisting of a father and his three daughters. The eldest two daughters were vain and haughty while Beauty was sweet and selfless. After many years, bad fortune struck the family and they lost all their wealth. While her sisters complained about the change of lifestyle, Beauty remained strong and positive. Eventually, the father travelled to the city where he heard one of his ships had returned. While the sisters asked for jewels and riches, Beauty asked her father to bring her back a rose. After a disappointing trip, the father ran into the Beast on his way home. The Beast allowed him to go free if he would bring back one of his daughters in replacement. Beauty volunteered and went to stay in the castle where she was impressed by the kindness she was treated with. After seeing her family through a mirror, Beauty was allowed home to visit her sickly father. There, she dreamt of the Beast dying from heartache in his garden. She immediately returned to the Beast’s castle and found him in the same state as in her dream. While the Beast was on the brink of death, Beauty realized her love for him and promised to be his wife. With this, the Beast transformed into a handsome young prince. He revealed to Beauty that he had been put under a spell, and that the good fairy had taken care of them in the castle. Beauty and the Beast were married, and her family came to live with them. She continued to be selfless and live her life doing good deeds for others.
Fairy Tale Title
Beauty and the Beast
Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)
None listed
Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)
None listed
Common Tale Type
Beauty and the Beast
Tale Classification
ATU 425C
Page Range of Tale
Unnumbered
Full Citation of Tale
Beauty and the Beast. New York: McLoughlin Bro's, 1891.
Original Source of the Tale
Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve
Tale Notes
This is a beautifully illustrated and simply written version of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale. The inclusion of Beauty’s dreams drives the plot forward in a unique twist to this tale. This version also begins with explanations of her character versus her sisters’, spending the first pages proving that Beauty is selfless and kind. Beauty willingly stays in the Beast’s castle in place of her father and in the midst of the tale, Beauty is allowed to return home for a brief visit, only to return by choice to the Beast after a terrible dream. The tale concludes with the classic transformation.
Research and Curation
Katie Sheahan, 2020
Book Title
Beauty and the Beast
Book Author/Editor(s)
None listed
Illustrator(s)
None listed
Publisher
McLoughlin Bro's
Date Published
1891
Decade Published
1890-1899
Publisher City
New York
Publisher Country
United States
Language
English
Rights
Public Domain
Digital Copy
Available at the Internet Archive
Book Notes
Part of the Santa Claus Series
More like this tale
“Beauty and the Beast.” The Book of Fables and Folk Stories, Horace Elisha Scudder, Boston: Houghton Mifflin; 1919, pp. 112-126.
Crane, Walter. Beauty and the Beast. London and New York: George Routledge and Sons, 1875.
The History of Beauty and the Beast. Devonport, England: Samuel and John Keys, [c. 1840].
“Beauty and the Beast.” The Blue Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, London and New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1889, pp. 100-119.
Beauty and the Beast. New York: McLoughlin Bro's, 1891.
“Beauty and the Beast.” Europa’s Fairy Book, Joseph Jacobs, New York, London: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1916, pp. 34-41.
Chisholm, Louey. “Beauty and the Beast.” In Fairyland: Tales Told Again, illustrated by Katharine Cameron, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904, pp. 191-198.
