While some stories in the book are retellings of famous folktales, most were new to me. Even the ones I recognised had twists and turns that made them different from versions I'd heard before. None are anything you'd find on Disney. I wouldn't say they're full of sex, violence and crudeness, but they have those elements. They are also enchanting, and that's really what I love about them. I also enjoy the way the tales are told. I guess I should say the way they're written, but the style is such that I could imagine I heard Wynd's voice as I read them.
All books of fairy tales should be illustrated, in my opinion, and Luciana Nedelea has created pictures that are just as darkly enchanting as the stories they depict. Here's what the press release about the book says:
"Prepare to journey into the darker, more whimsical corners of folklore with Viktor Wynd... This enticing collection of alternative tales, populated by fairies, shapeshifters, ogres and magical beings, promises a reading experience that is at once macabre and entertaining.
"On his extensive travels, Wynd has amassed a trove of stories filled with risqué twists, grotesque details, and endings that are surprisingly happy, though not always in the way one might expect. Travelling to Wales, Ireland, Arabia, Germany, Norway, Papua New Guinea and Borneo, readers will encounter a one-eyed troll; the ‘good people’ of Ireland; a changeling child; a girl who thinks she can outwit a witch; the doomed Sinbad the Traveler; shapeshifters; and a baby-eating pig.
"Each chapter begins with Wynd’s personal account of how he came to learn these stories, bringing the details of the collection tales to life with humour and frankness. Complementing the captivating narratives are the arresting and intricate illustrations by Transylvanian artist Luciana Nedelea, whose work perfectly balances the charming and grotesque."
As an added bonus, the last chapter in the book offers a lesson in how to tell stories, which I found fascinating. Although I write fiction, having published a Gothic novel and some short stories, the skills needed to tell them well are different. Wynd's tip is to write down the important points of the story as a reminder, but not try to memorise the entire thing. Useful advice.
Dark Fairy Tales - Stories from Around the World (That Are Definitely Not Suitable for Children) is being launched with two in-person events in London. Here are the details:
- Monday, 8 September; Dark Fairy Tales From Around The World with Viktor Wynd - LIVE. Venue: The Last Tuesday Society / Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street London E8 4RP. Time: 6.30pm. Tickets £15 – £21.39 (includes a cocktail). https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dark-fairy-tales-from-around-the-world-with-viktor-wynd-live-tickets-1275402215359?
- Thursday, 11 September; Dark Fairy Tales by Viktor Wynd Book Launch. Venue: St Giles Cripplegate, Fore Street, London EC2Y 8DA. Time: 6pm. Tickets £0 – £30.10 (includes copy of book). https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dark-fairy-tales-by-viktor-wynd-book-launch-tickets-1488861668329?
Copies of the book can be bought at the above events or via publiser Prestel.
You can also view copies on Amazon.
For more details, visit www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org
(Please note: I earn commission from some links)
Viktor Wynd is a writer, artist, and the proprietor of the eponymous Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and UnNatural History in London. He regularly leads expeditions to Papua New Guinea, the Congo and beyond, taking small groups with him via his boutique travel agency Gone with the Wynd. He is also the author of Viktor Wynd’s Cabinet of Wonders and The UnNatural History Museum (both published by Prestel).
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