The Fairy Tales of Perrault (1922). Illustrated by Harry Clarke

The Fairy Tales of Perrault (1922) is a lavishly illustrated edition of classic French tales, brought to life by the haunting and ornate vision of Irish illustrator Harry Clarke. Published by George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., this edition includes many of the most beloved fairy tales of Western literature—such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Bluebeard, and Puss in Boots—retold in a lyrical English translation.

Charles Perrault, writing in 17th-century France, is considered the father of the modern fairy tale. His versions of these stories have had enduring cultural influence, shaping the versions we recognize today. Perrault’s prose is elegant, moralistic, and often darkly ironic—qualities perfectly complemented by Harry Clarke’s illustration style.

This edition features Clarke’s distinctive black-and-white drawings, along with a number of vivid color plates. His illustrations are highly stylized, with delicate line work, theatrical compositions, and a distinct gothic flair. Clarke captures the eerie elegance of Perrault’s worlds, offering images that are at once enchanting and unsettling. His depictions of characters like the menacing Bluebeard or the innocent yet doomed Red Riding Hood elevate the stories beyond children’s entertainment into the realm of high art and psychological depth.

Harry Clarke (1889-1931)
Ireland’s greatest stained glass artist and illustrator brought his dual genius to this Perrault edition. Trained at Dublin’s Metropolitan School of Art, Clarke developed an unmistakable style that merged Celtic motifs with Symbolist mystery. His illustrations for Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1919) and Goethe’s Faust (1925) established his reputation for creating images of both technical brilliance and psychological depth. Clarke’s work for The Fairy Tales of Perrault is widely considered one of the finest illustrated editions of these stories, offering a vision that is darkly poetic and emotionally resonant.

For collectors:

• Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by Harry Clarke (1916) – Clarke’s earlier masterpiece featuring similar enchanting imagery
• Cinderella by Arthur Rackham (1919) – A complementary golden age interpretation of fairy tales
• Sleeping Beauty and Other Fairy Tales (1910) by Edmund Dulac – Another magnificent contemporary fairy tale collection
• The Blue Fairy Book (1889), illustrated by H.J. Ford – A classic anthology with a wide range of European fairy tales and early Golden Age illustration.

Other books illustrated by the great Harry Clarke are also available for perusal in our gallery: Faust, Selected Poems of Charles Swinburne, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Andersen’s Fairy Tales, Year’s at the Spring.

Art Gallery: Harry Clarke – The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault 1922