From its roots in the oral tradition to the sophisticated, postmodernist reworkings of the present day, the fairy tale has retained its powerful hold over the cultural imagination of Europe and North America for centuries. The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales provides an authoritative reference source for this complex, captivating genre, exploring the tales themselves, both ancient and modern, the writers who wrote and reworked them and the artists who illustrated them, and related topics such as film, art, opera, ballet, music, even advertising." "An introductory overview by Jack Zipes sets the subject in its historical and literary context, and special survey articles explore the development of the fairy-tale tradition in individual countries, focusing particularly on the European and North American traditions. With more than 800 entries written by a team of 67 specialist contributors from around the world, 70 beautiful illustrations, and a detailed bibliography, this is a companion for anyone interested in literature, film, or art, or for anyone who values the traditions of storytelling.