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.