Madame d'Aulnoy was a French writer known for her enchanting fairy tales. Her collection, Contes de Fées, includes memorable stories like The White Cat, offering readers charming journeys into magical realms filled with adventure and imagination.
If you enjoy reading books by Madame d'Aulnoy then you might also like the following authors:
Charles Perrault is well known for his fairy tales with clear moral lessons and whimsical plots. His stories often blend fantasy and daily life, creating magical but accessible narratives.
Readers who appreciate Madame d'Aulnoy might enjoy Perrault's storytelling charm in Histoires ou Contes du Temps Passé, also known as Mother Goose Tales, including classics like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve wrote imaginative and richly layered fairy tales in a romantic, descriptive style. Her writing explores themes of identity, love, and personal transformation.
Her original version of Beauty and the Beast, titled La Belle et la Bête, will appeal to those who love Madame d'Aulnoy's elegant and detailed storytelling.
Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont simplified and popularized complex fairy tales, using an educational, clear, and accessible style. Her stories explore themes such as courage, virtue, and personal growth, making them highly readable.
Fans of Madame d'Aulnoy might find the refined storytelling of Beaumont's famous version of Beauty and the Beast engaging and emotionally meaningful.
Madeleine de Scudéry wrote romances and historical novels full of elaborate plotlines and deeply introspective characters. She often explored issues like love, integrity, and emotional expression, with a sophisticated and intellectual flair.
Her renowned novel, Clélie, filled with character studies and emotional depth, will resonate with fans of Madame d'Aulnoy who enjoy thoughtful stories filled with refined sentiments.
Catherine Bernard created tales and dramas noted for their psychological insights and strong emotional themes focused on character development and moral choices. Her stories often contain a mixture of romance, mystery, and tragedy.
Readers who enjoy the emotionally complex tales of Madame d'Aulnoy will appreciate Bernard's fascinating novella Inès de Cordoue, which examines questions of love, jealousy, and virtue.
Henriette-Julie de Murat's fairy tales draw readers into elegant worlds filled with wit, enchantment, and insightful social commentary. She often blends imaginative fantasy elements with subtle critiques of her own society's values.
In Bearskin, Murat creates a tale filled with magical transformations and a thoughtful exploration of appearance and identity, sure to charm fans of Madame d'Aulnoy.
Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force provides imaginative and wonderfully written tales, characterized by graceful prose, vivid storytelling, and insightful reflections on love and power dynamics.
Her tale Persinette—the inspiration for the beloved fairy tale Rapunzel—presents themes of love, captivity, and redemption that resonate deeply and beautifully with Madame d'Aulnoy's readers.
Marie-Jeanne L'Héritier de Villandon crafts fairy stories that convey intelligence, charm, and a gentle moral depth. Her style features engaging, gracefully told narratives that consider women's roles and relationships.
With The Discreet Princess, she offers a delightful take on female cleverness and agency, themes familiar and appealing for readers fond of Madame d'Aulnoy.
Giambattista Basile delivers vibrant, earthy, and humor-filled fairy tales steeped in rich storytelling traditions. His stories often portray human folly, cleverness, and desire in an engaging and irreverent voice.
In his collection The Tale of Tales (also known as Pentamerone), readers encounter spirited and fantastical narratives that feel alive, charming, and often surprising, offering an appealing alternative for those who love Madame d'Aulnoy.
Giovanni Francesco Straparola is an enchanting storyteller whose narratives combine imaginative fantasy, humor, and occasionally suggestive undertones. He skillfully blends fantastical elements with down-to-earth humor and clever moral insights.
In his collection The Facetious Nights of Straparola, readers are drawn to vivid, often surprising tales rich in magic and charm, making Straparola an enjoyable companion to Madame d'Aulnoy's readers.
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm gathered traditional fairy tales that became beloved classics. Their style is straightforward, packed with memorable characters and vivid storylines. Like Madame d'Aulnoy, they explored universal truths about human nature, good versus evil, and morality.
A notable collection is Children's and Household Tales, filled with timeless stories like Cinderella, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel.
Hans Christian Andersen wrote fairy tales steeped in sentiment and imagination. He addressed deep emotional issues through clear and accessible stories, much like Madame d'Aulnoy's nuanced storytelling.
One of his best-known works, The Little Mermaid, beautifully explores themes of longing, sacrifice, and transformation.
Angela Carter drew inspiration from classic fairy tales and infused them with sharp wit, feminism, and dark humor. Her stories reshape familiar tales into something bold and thought-provoking—perfect if you enjoy Madame d'Aulnoy's inventive storytelling.
Her collection, The Bloody Chamber, is an intriguing retelling of classic tales, such as Bluebeard and Little Red Riding Hood.
Italo Calvino was known for his imaginative brilliance and elegant writing style. Readers of Madame d'Aulnoy will appreciate Calvino's fascination with storytelling traditions, inventive plotlines, and playful language.
His collection Italian Folktales gathers wonderfully crafted stories, showcasing Calvino's insightful narrative voice.
Madame de Sévigné wrote fascinating letters filled with lively observations, subtle humor, and vibrant descriptions of aristocratic life. If you're drawn to Madame d'Aulnoy's style, you'll find Madame de Sévigné's engaging storytelling similarly charming and detailed.
An excellent place to start is the collection simply titled Selected Letters of Madame de Sévigné, providing an insight into life and intrigue in 17th-century France.