Abstract
Fairy tales play an essential role in the prose writings of the Italian poet, essayist, and literary translator Cristina Campo (1923–1977). As she writes in her only overtly autobiographical piece, fairy tales are like those magic walnuts that, once cracked, rescue their bearer at the moment of greatest danger. Although critics have commented on Campo's theories of fairy tales, in this essay I provide a more systematic exploration of the meaning of fairy tales in each of Campo's essays collected in Gli imperdonabili. Emphasis is given to Campo's Christian interpretation, the influence of Simone Weil's philosophy, and the recurring themes of suffering, hope, and transformation.
Recommended Citation
Mazzoni, Cristina. "Tough Magical Nuts to Crack: Cristina Campo's Reflections on Fairy Tales." Marvels & Tales 26.2 (2012). Web. <https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/marvels/vol26/iss2/5>.
