Fairy stories have captivated the hearts and minds of children over many centuries. With their stories of witches and fairies, enchanting castles, and beautiful princesses, they contain all the right ingredients for exciting a young mind. But as is well known, the truths that can be found within these timeless compositions are rich in meaning and metaphor.

In this innovative book, seven traditional tales are beautifully retold. Appealing to children, these are also intended to inspire new meaning for adults. Combined with each classical retelling is a short story that aims to maintain the spirit and messages contained in the children’s versions.

These parallel stories are specifically written for adults, set in a wide range of environments, and featuring characters who encounter a whole host of very real human challenges and dilemmas. Loan sharks and wife-beaters, compulsive gamblers and manslaughterers all feature here. But so too do stories of transformation and redemption, and journeys of self-discovery and unlikely friendship.

Each pair of stories is accompanied by a commentary on how they might be interpreted. The result is a collection of wonderful tales that may continue to enthral children, whilst offering fresh levels of meaning that might be appreciated by an older audience.