Quiller-Couch translates four French fairy tales into English, some of which are perennial favorites, witness Disney's animated rendering of Beauty and the Beast or Jean Cocteau's critically acclaimed film version of the tale. (It was written by Mme Gabrielle de Villeneuve, who died in 1755 and lives only by grace of this one of her several original romantic stories.) Other fairy tales included in this compilation are Charles Perrault's (1628-1703) The Sleeping Beauty, Bluebeard, and Cinderella.Arthur Quiller-Couch had this to say regarding his translation of these tales: "My own share in this volume is, perhaps, less easily defended. I began by translating Perrault's tales, very nearly word for word; because to me his style has always seemed nearly perfect for its purpose; and the essence of 'style' in writing is propriety to its purpose."