What'sHerName

THE FAIRYTELLER Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy

August 31, 2026·54 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

350 years ago in Paris, Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy retired from espionage and formed a Fairy Tale Resistance. Her team of women wrote over 70 fairy tales, each with hidden critiques of patriarchy and gender roles. We now know their stories as Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast and more. But in their original versions, strong women saved themselves. So how did the Brothers Grimm get it so spectacularly wrong? Professor Jane Harrington unearths the story of Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy, whose real life was wilder than any fairy tale. _____________________________ Want to learn more? Check out Jane Harrington's Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance. We dream of making What'sHerName completely free and ad-free around the world! Can you join the dream and ⁠give $1/month ⁠? What'sHerName⁠ TOURS⁠ are open for registration, come join us! Music in this episode: "None Shall Plunder," "Blew Cap," and "Parthenia" performed by Philip Serna, composed by Wm. Lawes 1651; "FairyTale Waltz," "Pooka," and "Arcadia" by Kevin MacLeod; "Magical Forest," "Spying in the 60's" by Sir Cubworth; "Dark Elves" by Jimena Contreras; "The Palace Gardens" by Asher Fulero; "Toy Piano" by Wayne Jones; "A Baroque Letter," and "In the Temple Garden" by Aaron Kenny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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