Madame de Villeneuve's Original Beauty and the Beast - Illustrated by Edward Corbould and Brothers Dalziel

This enchanting French fairy tale is a timeless story of true love in the face of adversity and reveals the origin tale of the treasured Beauty and the Beast.
The story begins with a poor merchant and his daughters on the cusp of poverty. When there is a chance that their capital could be restored, the merchant leaves his family and embarks on a long journey. His children ask their father to return with luxurious gifts. All except his youngest daughter, Beauty, who requests nothing more than a single rose. In the merchant's attempts to obtain this flower, he encounters a monstrous beast, and changes the course of Beauty's future forever.
First published in 1740, 'La Belle et La Bête' is one of the world's most beloved fairy tales. Written by Madame de Villeneuve, the story was translated into English in 1858 by J. R Planché. This edition features two gorgeous engravings by Edward Corbould and the Brothers Dalziel.

Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve (1685-1755) was a French novelist. Influenced by the likes of Madame d'Aulnoy and Charles Perrault, she wrote in the French précieuse literary style. During her writing career she produced a novella, four novels, and two collections of fairy tales. Her most celebrated work is 'La Belle et la Bête' (1740), which is the oldest known variant of the classic 'Beauty and the Beast' story.