“Beauty and the Beast.” Europa’s Fairy Book, Joseph Jacobs, New York, London: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1916, pp. 34-41.
Tale Summary
A merchant went on a journey and his three daughters each asked for him to bring back a gift. One daughter asked for a necklace, another a gold chain, and the youngest daughter, named Bella, asked for a rose. The merchant plucked a rose from a garden and was caught by the Beast. The Beast demands that the merchant give him his youngest daughter in exchange for the merchant’s life. The merchant then took Bella to the castle where they found no people but were served by invisible servants. The Beast told the merchant that he would be allowed to visit Bella every week on that day. Bella began talking with the beast and started falling in love with him. One day she found the beast lifeless below the rose bush from which the merchant had plucked the rose. She proclaimed her love for the Beast causing the hide of the beast to split apart and reveal a handsome young prince. The prince explained that he was cursed unless a maiden should, of her own accord, declare that she loved him. The prince married Bella and they lived happily ever after.
Fairy Tale Title
Beauty and the Beast
Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)
Joseph Jacobs
Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)
John D. Batten
Common Tale Type
Beauty and the Beast
Tale Classification
ATU 425C
Page Range of Tale
34-41
Full Citation of Tale
“Beauty and the Beast.” Europa’s Fairy Book, Joseph Jacobs, New York, London: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1916, pp. 34-41.
Original Source of the Tale
Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve
Tale Notes
In some versions of the tale there are different numbers of children, the Beast gives the merchant the gifts for the other children beside Beauty, or magical helpers like fairies try to nudge Beauty toward the Beast. In this version, there are three daughters, the merchant buys gifts for his children while on his journey elsewhere, and the Beauty, named Bella, falls in love with the beast of her own accord. The servants in some versions are animals that are enchanted in some way, but this version only has invisible servants. Perhaps the most striking difference is that the Beast in this version is kinder than in other versions and allows the father to visit weekly, while in other versions the Beast allows Beauty to visit her family only once. In the end of the story, some versions have Bella discovering her noble background, but this version does not touch on that aspect.
Research and Curation
Isaac Blair, 2020
Book Title
Europa's Fairy Book
Book Author/Editor(s)
Joseph Jacobs
Illustrator(s)
John D. Batten
Publisher
G. P. Putnam's sons, The Knickerbocker Press
Date Published
1916
Decade Published
1910-1919
Publisher City
New York
London
Publisher Country
United States
United Kingdom
Language
English
Rights
Public Domain
Digital Copy
Book Notes
None