The Tsarevna Frog, often translated as The Frog Princess in the United States, is a well-known and beloved Russian fairy tale. This time the frog is a princess and must prove her domestic skills before she is disenchanted to live happily ever after with her prince, a youngest son.
2. Doralice
Doralice is an early Italian variant of the Donkeyskin tales, one of the most popular tale types in France but often ignored elsewhere thanks to its incest themes. Donkeyskin is also closely related to Cinderella tales. Doralice first appeared in print in Giovanni Francesco Straparola’s Facetious Nights around 1550.
3. Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree
Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree is a Celtic Snow White variant, closely related to the Lay of Eliduc by Marie de France. It is one of my favorite variants because the second wife is the true heroine, saving the day, while most variants only have a villain and a victim.
4. Petrosinella
Petrosinella is an early Italian Rapunzel variant from Giambattista Basile’s Il Pentamerone, first published around 1634-6. Petronsinella rescues herself in this tale, escaping with her prince through cunning and the help of magic objects.
5. The Peasant’s Clever Daughter
The Peasant’s Clever Daughter is from the Brothers Grimm although many variants exist around the world. It has gained popularity in the past few decades thanks to its intelligent and resourceful heroine. It also is one of the few tale variants to portray a somewhat balanced marriage. This one is highly recommended for bedtime reading with your favorite child while many of those listed above have more adult content.
Heidi Anne Heiner is the creator and keeper ofSurLaLune Fairy Tales, a top internet resource on fairy tales. She wants to be a fairy godmother when she grows up.
IMAGE: Illustration for Parsley (Petrosinella) by Warwick Goble.
1. The Tsarevna Frog