Eight of the twelve tales in this book are from the master hand of Charles Perrault (1628-1703). Although Perrault enjoyed much distinction in the French literary circle of the late seventeenth century, his fame today rests upon his authorship of the traditional `Tales of Mother Goose`, or `Stories of Olden Times`. And it is true to say that as long as there are children to listen spellbound to the adventures of `Cinderella`, `Red Riding Hood`, and that arch rogue `Puss in Boots`, his memory will endure. Three of the tales, `The Ridiculous Wishes`, `Donkey-Skin` and `Patient Griselda`, are seldom included in Perrault collections as they were written in a very florid verse form. Not only Perrault, but Boccaccio, Chaucer and others have used the story of `Patient Griselda`. The last story, `Beauty and the Beast`, again not by Perrault (it was penned by Mme. Leprince de Beaumont 1711-1781), has a similarity of style and celebrity which justifiably merits its inclusion.