Why am I passionate about this?
The first thing I ever wrote was a play about a goose girl, and I’ve been fascinated with fairytales ever since. As a poet, I adore how the images speak deeply to our subconscious—fur, hair, mirrors, blood, snow, fairy fruit. As a nonfiction writer, my book explored witches and princesses, whilst my latest adult novel looks at a fairytale salon in Paris attended by Perrault. I hope this list convinces you that fairytales aren’t only for the nursery but are as important to literature as Greek myths—shaping our narratives and reemerging in surprising places.
Clare's book list on fairytales for grownups
Why did Clare love this book?
I read this book as a teenager, and it blew my mind. I always loved fairytales but thought that growing up meant putting them away. Angela Carter’s collection of radical, feminist short stories revises tales such as Red Riding Hood, Bluebeard, and Beauty of the Beast while also exposing the violence and sex that were under their surface all along.
13 authors picked The Bloody Chamber as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
With an introduction by Helen Simpson. From familiar fairy tales and legends - Red Riding Hood, Bluebeard, Puss in Boots, Beauty and the Beast, vampires and werewolves - Angela Carter has created an absorbing collection of dark, sensual, fantastic stories.