Little Red Riding Hood, illustrated by H. Isabel Adams, engraved by R. Anning Bell
Little Red Riding Hood is one of the best-known fairy tales in the world. Banbury Cross Series by J. M. Dent & Co. included it for obvious reasons.
Little Red Riding Hood is one of the best-known fairy tales in the world. Banbury Cross Series by J. M. Dent & Co. included it for obvious reasons.
Like all other books in this series, it was illustrated by black and white drawings, engraved by Robert Anning Bell.
For technical and commercial reasons, the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood shares a place in the book with another story. This one is titled (The History of) Tom Thumb.
Just like all other stories in the series this book is adapted by Grace Rhys.
Both tales are illustrated by Harriet Isabel Adams (1853-1973) who became famous mostly for her botanical drawings. Wild Flowers of the British Isles from 1907 (she wrote the text as well) is considered her major work.
In the presented frontispiece we already see the artist's love of plants drawing. She used the background as some kind of frame, just like in those times was fashionable. The Art Nouveau style was at its peak.
The book was published in London in 1895. This page is another fine example of a decorative frame, made of flowers and fairy elements.
Little Red Riding Hood is a nickname. The girl with it has an important task. Her grandmother who gave her the red hood, is ill. She lives in the woods and needs some food and drink to get better. Little Red Riding Hood is about to bring it to her. Her mother is giving her the latest advice before the goodbye.
Don't stray from the path!
Don't talk to strangers!
Don't forget the basket for your grandmother!
Don't stray from the path!
Don't talk to strangers!
Don't forget the basket for your grandmother!
But life often turns differently as we plan and Little Red Riding Hood's journey was no exception.
She met a wolf and she started talking to him. He was nice. He wanted to know where she was going.
He looked worried about her granny's health. He questioned her in detail about her home and suggested a shortcut.
He also suggested that she pick up some flowers as an addition to the basket full of food and wine. Lovely, colorful flowers would definitely bring some smile to the face of the old lady, right? A bit of optimism can work as a kind of medicine, right?
She met a wolf and she started talking to him. He was nice. He wanted to know where she was going.
He looked worried about her granny's health. He questioned her in detail about her home and suggested a shortcut.
He also suggested that she pick up some flowers as an addition to the basket full of food and wine. Lovely, colorful flowers would definitely bring some smile to the face of the old lady, right? A bit of optimism can work as a kind of medicine, right?
So the little girl took the shortcut which was not any short as the planned path and the wolf ran to her grandmother's home. He knew that the old lady expected some food but he was hungry too.
Little Red Riding Hood spent a nice time in the nature. She was playing and singing and picking flowers. She didn't forget her grandmother, yet she didn't forget to enjoy herself as well.
Little Red Riding Hood spent a nice time in the nature. She was playing and singing and picking flowers. She didn't forget her grandmother, yet she didn't forget to enjoy herself as well.
In the meantime, the wolf reached Red Riding Hood's home. The door was unlocked. Old lady, of course, expected a visit. A different kind of visit, though.
Wolf didn't spend too much time. He jumped on the old lady and ate her.
This would do for a moment. Yet his mission was not finished. He had plans with the little girl as well. For that, he had another trick in his corrupted mind.
He dressed himself in an old lady's sleeping gown and got into bed. Then he just waited ...
Wolf didn't spend too much time. He jumped on the old lady and ate her.
This would do for a moment. Yet his mission was not finished. He had plans with the little girl as well. For that, he had another trick in his corrupted mind.
He dressed himself in an old lady's sleeping gown and got into bed. Then he just waited ...
Finally, Little Red Riding Hood arrived. She was so happy. She had the basket for her sick granny and she picked a nice bouquet of flowers to enlighten her day.
She knocked at the door as good girls do and waited for an answer.
The voice from inside invited her to enter.
The voice sounded a bit weird.
A bit too deep and husky.
Not at all like the voice of her grandmother.
But, on the other hand, her granny was sick, wasn't she? She was totally entitled to have a strange voice.
She knocked at the door as good girls do and waited for an answer.
The voice from inside invited her to enter.
The voice sounded a bit weird.
A bit too deep and husky.
Not at all like the voice of her grandmother.
But, on the other hand, her granny was sick, wasn't she? She was totally entitled to have a strange voice.
Little Red Riding Hood's mother didn't just sound weird. She looked different as well.
She had unexpectedly large eyes. Well, at least she could see her better.
She had unexpectedly large ears. Well, at least she could hear her better.
She had unexpectedly large hairy hands. Paws would actually describe them better. Paws to grab her better ...
And a big muzzle instead of mouth, a muzzle, full of large teeth ...
The wolf grabbed the Little Red Riding Hood and ate her!
She had unexpectedly large eyes. Well, at least she could see her better.
She had unexpectedly large ears. Well, at least she could hear her better.
She had unexpectedly large hairy hands. Paws would actually describe them better. Paws to grab her better ...
And a big muzzle instead of mouth, a muzzle, full of large teeth ...
The wolf grabbed the Little Red Riding Hood and ate her!
Surprised? Didn't expect such an ending? You may be asking yourself what happened to the hunter?
If you really thought that this fairy tale would end with a happy ending, with a hunter who rescues both victims and a lovely feast over the dead beast's body, you probably knew only the Grimms' version which should actually be translated as Red Cap.
Yet, in this book, Grace Rhys presented Perrault's version which is not the oldest among known variations of the same story but it's the first where the main character of the story wears a red riding hood. Charles Perrault was a well-read man and knew older versions of the same story (with a hunter or similar rescuer) but believed he should use it as a cautionary tale. With an unhappy ending.
He tried to warn young girls who too often became prey of the ultimate predators at the court of King XIV, where Perrault worked. These predators were, of course, older men, who were using their power and connections to play with young, inexperienced women, often hurting them badly, and even ruining their lives.
If you want to learn more about this fascinating fairy tale, visit this interesting presentation of Red Riding Hood.
And beware of all the big bad wolfs out there!
If you really thought that this fairy tale would end with a happy ending, with a hunter who rescues both victims and a lovely feast over the dead beast's body, you probably knew only the Grimms' version which should actually be translated as Red Cap.
Yet, in this book, Grace Rhys presented Perrault's version which is not the oldest among known variations of the same story but it's the first where the main character of the story wears a red riding hood. Charles Perrault was a well-read man and knew older versions of the same story (with a hunter or similar rescuer) but believed he should use it as a cautionary tale. With an unhappy ending.
He tried to warn young girls who too often became prey of the ultimate predators at the court of King XIV, where Perrault worked. These predators were, of course, older men, who were using their power and connections to play with young, inexperienced women, often hurting them badly, and even ruining their lives.
If you want to learn more about this fascinating fairy tale, visit this interesting presentation of Red Riding Hood.
And beware of all the big bad wolfs out there!