Aurelia : art and literature through the mouth of the fairy tale /

In this work, author Mavor (art history & visual culture, Univ. of Manchester, UK; Blue Mythologies) draws connections among the stories, themes, and imagery found in fairy tales, nursery rhymes, literature, art, film, and more. Chapters center on a theme or subject (e.g., innocence) often addressed or represented in story (e.g., Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre's Paul and Virginia), analyzed and expanded to an in-depth, enriched examination of the topic. An impressive number of references span countries, cultures, and time, employing allegory, linguistics, visuals, history, etc., to support the author's discourse. For example, in her discussion of glass and its association with transformation, vision, and epiphany, she references fairy tales (Cinderella's glass slippers), art (Jonny Briggs's glass Shoe), the natural world (the transformation of sand into glass), and more. VERDICT Expansive and compelling yet accessible, Mavor's work provides readers with a unique and thoughtful examination of her topic. Recommended for scholars, subject experts, and those with a strong interest in exploring the relationship among fairy tales, literature, and art.-Jennifer Harris, Southern New Hampshire Univ. Lib., Manchester © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.