The French Fantasy Treasury 2

THE FRENCH FANTASY TREASURY
selected & edited by
J-M. & R. Lofficier

Research by Brian Stableford

cover by Michel Borderie

Translations by Ruth Berman, J.S. Chartres, C.J. Cherryh, W.W. Comfort, Lafcadio Hearn, Charles Lamb, Mrs. John Lane, Andrew Lang, Eugene Mason, Peter Antony Motteux, Léonce Rabillon, Michael Shreve, P.J. Sokolowski, Brian Stableford, and Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty.

The French Fantasy Treasury serves as an introduction to French fantasy, which has a long and noble history, quite distinct from its British and American counterparts. Its three volumes chronicle the history of the genre, from its origins through modern times, and include stories, excerpts and novellas by some of the most prestigious authors in French literature.
A must for fantasy lovers everywhere.

VOLUME 2: MYTHS & LEGENDS
US$32.95/GBP 22.99
5x8 tpb, 432 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-61227-545-1


This second volume explores how new forms of fantasy emerged from the gothic novels and romanticism of the 19th century, reshaping old myths and revisiting ancient legends of the French countryside, before evolving into the opulent and seductive visions of the Symbolists of the fin de siècle. Can the old beggar woman fed from the crumbs of children's lunches really be the beautiful Queen of Sheba? Was Merlin a creature of the King of Hell and did he ever rise against his father? In these pages, we visit the Kingdom of the Dwarves and the Ashen Tower; we meet the Last Fay and the Lady of the Seven Mirrors; we share in the mournful tales of Anne of the Iles and the Lady of the Cold Kisses.

CONTENTS:
Introduction
MYTHS
Charles Nodier: The Crumb Fairy
Honoré de Balzac: The Pearl Fay
Edgar Quinet: Paradise Rediscovered
LEGENDS
S. Henry Berthoud: The Lady of the Cold Kisses
Paul Féval: Anne of the Isles
Anatole France: Honey Bee
SYMBOLIST FANTASIES
Henri de Régnier: The Tale of the Lady of the Seven Mirrors
Camille Mauclair: The Poison of Precious Stones
Gustave Kahn: The Ashen Tower