Clever Gretchen and Other Forgotten Folktales

work by Lurie

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July 20, 2026

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"Clever Gretchen and Other Forgotten Folktales" is a collection of tales by Alison Lurie, published in 1980. This work is part of the broader genre of folktales, which are traditional stories passed down orally. These tales often feature marvelous elements and can include well-known stories like those collected by the Brothers Grimm, such as "Hansel and Gretel". Folktales are characterized by their basic patterns and narrative motifs rather than a fixed verbal form, allowing them to travel across cultures and languages. Lurie's collection contributes to the preservation and retelling of these traditional narratives.1234

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Alison Lurie
…Tales of the Stars (1979), Clever Gretchen and Other Forgotten Folktales (1980), and Fabulous Beasts (1981), as well as works about children’s literature. Her nonfiction works include Don’t Tell the Grown-Ups: Subversive Children’s Literature (1990). In addition, she coedited Classics of Children’s Literature (1976) and was editor of The Oxford…
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…Tales of the Stars (1979), Clever Gretchen and Other Forgotten Folktales (1980), and Fabulous Beasts (1981), as well as works about children’s literature. Her nonfiction works include Don’t Tell the Grown-Ups: Subversive Children’s Literature (1990). In addition, she coedited Classics of Children’s Literature (1976) and was editor of The Oxford…
Read More