Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
The Sleeping Beauty and Other Fairy Tales from the Old French  By  cover art

The Sleeping Beauty and Other Fairy Tales from the Old French

By: Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Narrated by: Roe Kendall
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $9.32

Buy for $9.32

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Quiller-Couch translates four French fairy tales into English, some of which are perennial favorites, witness Disney's animated rendering of Beauty and the Beast or Jean Cocteau's critically acclaimed film version of the tale. (It was written by Mme Gabrielle de Villeneuve, who died in 1755 and lives only by grace of this one of her several original romantic stories.) Other fairy tales included in this compilation are Charles Perrault's (1628-1703) The Sleeping Beauty, Bluebeard, and Cinderella.

Arthur Quiller-Couch had this to say regarding his translation of these tales: "My own share in this volume is, perhaps, less easily defended. I began by translating Perrault's tales, very nearly word for word; because to me his style has always seemed nearly perfect for its purpose; and the essence of 'style' in writing is propriety to its purpose."

(P)1999 Blackstone Audiobooks

What listeners say about The Sleeping Beauty and Other Fairy Tales from the Old French

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    76
  • 4 Stars
    31
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    66
  • 4 Stars
    27
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    60
  • 4 Stars
    28
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful retelling of the traditional French.

I love fairy tales and I've read my fair share, but even I was delightfully surprised by how beautiful and authentic these versions were. Wonderful performance and translation (I think), great nuances to the stories that really bring them to life. 100% recommend. Great length too for some easy listens if you need a break from novels.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Simple, well told and read fairy tales.

Apart from the tale of Bluebeard, which is frankly dismaying, these classic fairy tales are a nice listen. I would not say they are necessarily geared toward children. Instead, they are simply, stylishly told tales filled with delicate details often left out in modern retellings. The narrator does an excellent job bringing them to life as fairy tales should be read aloud.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

These are the original French fairytales… In English!

These are the classical fairytales from France, upon which all of the really good adaptations have come. You’ll see a lot of similarity in this Cinderella and the 2016 live movie.

Well voiced as well. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am about to start it all over again!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Iiilk.. not a very good start. Sound quality is bad and narration is not any better. … Just bad

I already summoned it. I’m not Happy
That I finally take the time
E, and rhia ahkt HAPPINES

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!