A handsome guitar player plays the role of Prince and saves Rapunzel from living on the streets. The lift is broken and there were hundreds of stairs. Rapunzel lives in a tower block and her Aunt Edna, of considerable size, calls for the long plait to be thrown over the balcony to aid her rise to the top. Platform shoes, bell-bottoms and funky hair form the fashion sense for this 70’s inspired story. Flapper dresses and dances, pointy shoes and short curled hair take this story into a dramatic era of parties, girl power and the beginning of technology in the home…for Cinderella hears news of the ball from the radio! Rapunzel With the same story at it’s core- greedy and selfish step sisters, sleeping on cinders, a magical transformation- this story has a stylish new fashion sense. Each story is charming and wonderfully illustrated in the style of era the story is set within. Roberts and his sister invite the reader back in time to meet Greta (Art Deco Cinderella), Rapunzel (Rock and roll 50’s) and Annabel (70’s Sleeping Beauty). This hard back book features three fairy tales set in historical time periods from the Art Deco 20’s through to the 50’s rock and roll, then into the 70’s platform shoes! Written by Lynn Roberts-Maloney, Illustrated by David Roberts, Published by Pavilion Books With cultural and historical references as well as the extraordinary illustrations, these tales have new life and new relevance for readers. David Roberts and sister, Lynne Roberts-Maloney have taken some classic fairytales and re-imagined them historically. That event has inspired me to pick up a recent arrival and re-read some other twists and re-tellings of fairy tales.

Currently four books are published, re-imagined by authors of great talent. On Monday evening I joined the British Library in their event about a series of books called A Fairy Tale Revolution. Back to obsessing over fairy tales…this week has been a bit extra special though.

Rapunzel by Lynn Roberts-Maloney