Into the woods with Little Red Riding Hood, up the beanstalk with Jack, and down through the depths of the ocean with the Little Mermaid, this volume takes us through many of the familiar paths of our folkloric heritage. Gathering together twenty-five of our most cherished fairy tales, including enduring classics like Beauty and the Beast, Jack and the Beanstalk and Bluebeard, Tatar expertly guides readers through the stories, exploring their historical origins, their cultural complexities, and their psychological effects.