A king and queen, longing for a child, finally have a daughter. At her christening, seven fairies bestow gifts upon her, but an uninvited old fairy curses the princess to die from a spindle prick. A young fairy mitigates the curse, ensuring the princess will only fall into a deep sleep for a hundred years. To prevent the curse, the king bans spindles. Years later, the princess discovers an old woman spinning and, curious, pricks her finger, falling into a deep sleep. The king orders the palace to be sealed, and a dense forest grows around it to protect her. After a century, a prince hears tales of the sleeping beauty and, drawn by curiosity, finds the castle. The enchanted forest parts for him, and he discovers the sleeping princess. He awakens her with a kiss, and they fall in love. The palace awakens, and they celebrate their union with a grand feast. However, the prince's ogreish mother plots to eat their children. The cook deceives her, saving the children, but the queen discovers the ruse and seeks revenge. Ultimately, she meets her demise in a tub of serpents, allowing the prince, princess, and their children to live happily ever after.
By Charles Perrault · First published 1697 · Genre: Fairy tales, Fantasy, Children's literature