A
new genre is born….Fairy Tales by Lila DiPasqua
Everyone loves a fairy tale. There
have been countless movies, countless books that have taken classic fairy tales
and given them their own special spin.
But do you know where the genre of fairy tales was born? Or when some of the most famous fairy tales came about?
Well, now, dearest readers, I have some tantalizing tidbits to tell...
Once upon a time, there was a land full of decadence and excesses with elegant lords and ladies who lived in city mansions and sprawling palatial country estates. They attended spectacular masquerade balls, the theatre and ballets.
But do you know where the genre of fairy tales was born? Or when some of the most famous fairy tales came about?
Well, now, dearest readers, I have some tantalizing tidbits to tell...
Once upon a time, there was a land full of decadence and excesses with elegant lords and ladies who lived in city mansions and sprawling palatial country estates. They attended spectacular masquerade balls, the theatre and ballets.
And they did plenty to fill the
scandal sheets of the day.
Yes, dearest readers, it was a time as fine as Regency England. Just as polished. With healthy dose of salacious behavior.
That time was the 17th century. That place was the decadent Kingdom of France.
Yes, dearest readers, it was a time as fine as Regency England. Just as polished. With healthy dose of salacious behavior.
That time was the 17th century. That place was the decadent Kingdom of France.
And
it had all the elements we find in fairy tales.
There was a King – a lusty one, in fact. Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, loved sex and indulged in amorous encounters up to twice a day – into his seventies. The only thing he adored as much as women was dance. Did you know he established the first school of ballet? King Louis and his glittering court were not only connoisseurs of the arts – but of the carnal arts as well. The pursuit of sinful pleasures was a pastime. Sex, an art form. ;)
There was a queen – two, actually. The first
was said to have been poisoned, something not uncommon in fairy tales!
Princes and Princesses – Louis had a number of mistresses, a brood of illegitimate children, most of whom he legitimized.
A castle – No, better than that! Palaces! Several owned by the King, the most magnificent of which was and still is the Palace of Versailles. Commissioned by Louis XIV, it is majestic, full of opulence and splendor. He wanted and got a palace fit for the most powerful monarch in all of Christendom.
Princes and Princesses – Louis had a number of mistresses, a brood of illegitimate children, most of whom he legitimized.
A castle – No, better than that! Palaces! Several owned by the King, the most magnificent of which was and still is the Palace of Versailles. Commissioned by Louis XIV, it is majestic, full of opulence and splendor. He wanted and got a palace fit for the most powerful monarch in all of Christendom.
It was during this time period that Charles
Perrault first began writing down fairy tales – folklore that had been passed
on verbally for generations – and added morals to his stories. Soon fairy tales
became a highly fashionable topic of discussion in the renowned salons of
Paris. Hosted by women of the upper class, the salons were where the literati –
writers, poets, dramatists and grammarians – gathered with statesmen and the
aristocracy to discuss and debate history and literature, religion and
philosophy.
Charles Perrault, the father of fairy tales, created The Tales of Mother Goose in a magical, glorious time and brought the world Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, to name a few.
Charles Perrault, the father of fairy tales, created The Tales of Mother Goose in a magical, glorious time and brought the world Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, to name a few.
CHARLES PERRAULT
And I, dearest readers, must admit that I find this most sumptuous place and time just as inspiring. The critically acclaimed Fiery Tales series—wickedly retold fairy tales with my very own steamy, romantic spin—have been set during the very time when the genre of fairy tales was born!
My latest, UNDONE, is an emotionally charged retelling of Rapunzel. And in a few weeks watch for my holiday novella, THE DUKE’S MATCH GIRL—A grown up retelling of The Little Match Girl!
Once upon a scandalous time….
UNDONE
A
Fiery Tale
Historical
Romance
ISBN:
978-0988035010
Available Now!
Excerpt from
UNDONE (A retelling of Rapunzel)
Copyright© 2012
Lila DiPasqua. All rights reserved.
Unable to stop herself, Angelica took in his male beauty. He, not the books, now dominated the room. How was it possible that he looked even better than before?
A few wayward strands of his dark hair played against his lashes, but it was his mouth that captured her attention.
Such an appealing mouth…
She looked away, horrified by the workings of her mind. It had to be her headache that was distorting her thinking.
He stopped before her, towering over her.
The bookshelves against her back kept her fixed in place. She was keenly aware of the limited space between their bodies, his proximity causing her body to warm.
“I asked you a question.” His voice was quiet but firm.
Gazing up at him, she tried to clear her head by taking in a deep breath, but it only served to draw in his wonderful scent. She couldn’t quite describe it, but it was tantalizing in the extreme.
What was the matter with her? She shouldn’t be reacting to him this way. She’d chosen a cloistered existence, or rather, it had chosen her. Nonetheless, she’d accepted her future long ago.
“You should not be wandering about alone.” He spoke softly, his voice deep and rich in her ears. It reverberated through her belly with wicked appeal. Lightly, he stroked his knuckles along her bruised cheek.
“You should be in bed. You are still injured.”
She closed her eyes briefly. Get hold of yourself. This was the second time he’d touched her. Instead of drawing back, as she would have expected, she found herself wanting to draw near. It was a stunning reaction. As stunning as the tiny tingles that sped up her spine at his caress.
Bio:
Lila DiPasqua is a multi-published author of wicked & witty historical romance for Penguin/Berkley, as well as self-published works. Best known for her critically acclaimed Fiery Tales series. She lives with her husband and three children in Canada, and is a firm believer in happily ever after. To learn more about Lila’s books, visit her website: http://www.liladipasqua.com/ You can find her hanging out daily on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LilaDiPasquaAuthor and Twitter: https://twitter.com/liladipasqua
