Beauty and the Beast, and Tales of Home: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Beauty and the Beast, and Tales of Home: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Beauty and the Beast, and Tales of Home is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Taylor, Bayard (1825–1878).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Beauty and the Beast" by Bayard Taylor is a novel that intertwines fact and fancy, presenting a narrative set in mid-19th century Russia. The story engages with themes of love, power dynamics, and societal customs, focused on the characters of Prince Alexis, his wife Princess Martha, and their son Prince Boris. It explores the complexities of their lives within the context of Russian nobility and serfdom, revealing the interpersonal struggles and emotions that shape their world. The opening portion introduces us to Kinesma, a town on the Volga, where Prince Alexis finds himself in turmoil over a postponed dinner. His comedic insistence on avoiding a festival for his son leads to a series of events involving a drunken bear and a harried court-poet, setting the stage for the whimsical yet dark environment of the castle. As the narrative unfolds, we witness the egocentric behaviors of Alexis, the meekness of Princess Martha, and the cowardly nature of Boris, all richly painted against the backdrop of Russian culture and humor. The tone oscillates between severe brutality and lighthearted farce, foreshadowing the transformations that will occur as their lives progress.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Beauty and the Beast, and Tales of Home
- Author credits: Taylor, Bayard (1825–1878)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Short stories
- United States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
- Category: Russian Literature
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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