Not a Princess, but (Yes) There was a Pea, and Other Fairy Tales to Foment Revolution

ONCE UPON A TIME, WHAT IF...\nWhat if the Sleeping Beauty left to make her own life?
What if Bluebeard's wife seized the opportunity for justice?
What if the witch truly loved Rapunzel?
What if Snow White learned the virtues of right rulership from the dwarves,and Jack learned wisdom from the giants?\nIn this provocative collection, Rebecca Buchanan (author of Asphalt Gods) re-examines classic fairy tales from Mother Goose, Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, and other sources with a sharp and modern eye, deepening the impact of the original tales and often inverting the perceived moral. These re-imaginings show us not-so-noble frog princes, environmentalist knights, wicked witches revealed as wise women, the cynical politics of fairy godmothers, and unexpected humanity in the hearts of monsters.\nDig Deeper • Twist The Tales Around • Fairy Tales Are Revolutionary\nIllustrated throughout with classic art by Harry Clarke, Walter Crane, Gustave Doré, Albrecht Dürer and others.\n". . . beautifully rich imagery and twists you won't see coming . . . there's both pain and triumph in these fairy tale renderings, where villains are the heroes and heroes more complex than you could ever imagine. Don't try to put this book down once you start it. Instead make yourself comfortable and settle in. It's quite a ride." —Gerri Leen, Rhysling and Pushcart Prize nominated poet\n"[These] poems crackle with blood and life, revenge and death, life and war, and many satisfying comeuppances. For those of you who, like me, have read countless fairy tale retellings, you'll be surprised at Buchanan's way of reimagining even the most famous stories. For those less immersed in the world of fairy tales, prepare to be entertained, dazzled, shocked, and woken up. Strongly recommended." —Kate Wolford, Publisher of Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine\n“. . . Here, the bones of murdered women and children sing the names of their murderers on a tree at the heart of the world, and Jack learns the ways of clouds, trees, bees, frogs, and fishes from elemental giants. Buchanan’s poems remember their folkloric ancestors but are unafraid to forge new moral and literary ground, doing the work of folk tales as it has been done for centuries. Profoundly just and keenly concerned with the natural world, these are the old stories as we’ve never read them before and need to read them now, full of wisdom and warning for the perilous times we live in. A courageous and important collection.” —Ceallaigh S. MacCath-Moran, Folklore PhD Candidate and Author of the Forthcoming Play The Belt and the Necklace\n“There is an ineffable quality to Rebecca Buchanan’s poems, which are laden with subtle rhythmic devices to beguile the reader—poetic witchcraft of the highest order. These are the childhood fairy tales familiar to all, yet viewed from unfamiliar, kaleidoscopic angles, the effect of which is startling and revelatory. You will never look at these stories the same way again.” —Adam Bolivar, Author of The Ettinfell of Beacon Hill and Ballads for the Witching Hour\n“A brilliant collection exploring the darkest sides of humanity through a fairy tale lens, Not a Princess leads you down a memory lane paved with gilded bones and bloody stones. Lyrically and viscerally marrying feminist, social, and environmental horror, Rebecca Buchanan’s crafty cats, weary wolves, and disgruntled daughters will captivate you with razor-sharp verses and sumptuously twisted imagery. A perfect stormy evening read.” —Jessica McHugh, Bram Stoker & Elgin Award nominated author of A Complex Accident of Life