Introduction

This enchanting French fairy tale is a timeless story of true love in the face of adversity and reveals the origin tale of the treasured Beauty and the Beast.

Plot Summary

The story begins with a poor merchant and his daughters on the cusp of poverty. When there is a chance that their capital could be restored, the merchant leaves his family and embarks on a long journey. His children ask their father to return with luxurious gifts. All except his youngest daughter, Beauty, who requests nothing more than a single rose. In the merchant’s attempts to obtain this flower, he encounters a monstrous beast, and changes the course of Beauty’s future forever.

Publication Details

First published in 1740, La Belle et La Bête is one of the world’s most beloved fairy tales. Written by Madame de Villeneuve, the story was translated into English in 1858 by J. R Planché. This edition features two gorgeous engravings by Edward Corbould and the Brothers Dalziel.