Giambattista Basile's The Tale of Tales, or Entertainment for Little Ones

This modern translation of The Tale of Tales brings Giambattista Basile’s fairy tales to contemporary readers, preserving their unique character and cultural significance.

Giambattista Basile's The Tale of Tales, or Entertainment for Little Ones comprises forty-nine fairy tales framed within a fiftieth story, presenting early versions of beloved tales such as Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, and Cinderella. These stories are a blend of bawdy humor and tender whimsy, showcasing acute psychological characterization and rich descriptions. They evoke enchanting fairy-tale realms while also reflecting the everyday life and rituals of seventeenth-century Naples. However, the original text, written in the Neapolitan dialect of Italian, has remained largely inaccessible since its last complete translation into English in 1932, making this work a significant piece of Baroque literature that many have missed out on.

Translator Nancy L. Canepa offers a modern rendition of The Tale of Tales, striving to retain the unique essence of Basile's original work. By translating directly from the Neapolitan version, Canepa preserves the idiosyncratic tone, unpredictable structure, and inventive metaphors that characterize the original. This edition is thoroughly annotated, providing context for cultural references that may be unfamiliar to contemporary readers. Additionally, it features lush illustrations, a foreword, an introduction, an illustrator's note, and an extensive bibliography.

The release of The Tale of Tales not only highlights the Renaissance's fascination with popular culture and folk traditions but also marks the inception of the sophisticated 'authored' fairy tale genre that would later influence writers like Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm. This modern translation serves as an excellent starting point for exploring Italian culture and the enduring relevance of early modern fairy tales today. It is essential reading for fairy-tale scholars and those intrigued by cultural history.