Janet's Book Nook

The earliest version of Cinderella found is that written by Strabo an ancient Greek historian and was written in the 1st century BC. It seems that there are versions of Cinderella’s story told in every culture of the world. The basic ideas of oppression and misery being replaced with triumphant love with a leader are seen throughout the versions and only the details have changed. We once again see that Bastile is the author of the earliest version in Europe of Cinderella. He included his version in his book Il Pentamerone. The version that most of us have heard out whole lives war written by Charles Perrault in 1697. This is the first version where you read about the pumpkin being changed to a coach and it also adds the fairy godmother and the glass slipper. Other versions before this had Cinderella’s deceased mother’s spirit as her guide and adviser. Perrault changes this to a fairy godmother. The books, movies, songs and plays that have been based upon the original Cinderella story are too numerous to list but suffice it to say that this is a story that people love to tell. Disney’s version is the most beloved of the version. I am becoming more enthralled with each  character that I am researching. It is so amazing to see the morals and life lessons that people included in these stories all those years ago. What a lesson to learn.