About this book
Giambattista Basile's *Stories from Pentamerone* stands as one of the world's earliest written collections of fairy tales, predating even the Brothers Grimm by centuries. First published in Naples during the 17th century in the Neapolitan dialect, these 50 captivating stories reveal the raw, unpolished origins of the folklore we thought we knew.
You'll recognize the bones of beloved tales like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty woven throughout these narratives, but prepare yourself for a strikingly different experience. Basile's original versions pulse with dark magic, visceral violence, and morally complex characters that bear little resemblance to sanitized Disney adaptations. These are stories where consequences bite hard and magic comes at genuine cost—tales collected from the streets of Crete and Venice that showcase the genuine fears and desires of ordinary people across centuries.
This audiobook offers literary scholars, folklore enthusiasts, and adventurous listeners a fascinating window into how fairy tales evolved and what cultural anxieties they expressed. The Pentamerone reveals how storytelling functioned as both entertainment and moral instruction in medieval and Renaissance cultures, making it essential listening for anyone interested in the roots of Western narrative tradition.
Perfect for mature audiences and those seeking authentic, unvarnished fairy tale experiences, this collection transforms your understanding of where our most cherished stories truly began.
