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Riya Mishra

June 15, 2021

Are the new versions as good as the classics?

A new voice, but the same song?Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, Cinderella, Snow White, Mulan and, Little Red Riding Hood. These are the classics we read growing up! They have a sense of magic in them that whisks us away to a whole new world. The charming and gallant prince, the lovesick princess who needs saving, and a cruel yet cunning villain are the essential ingredients to conjure up these stories. Why do these stories have left a permanent mark on us and, why do they still inspire us?

Often it is said that the impact of these stories is undeniable in our society. The authors can sense the future while also capture the essence of the past.

In modern times, authors have adapted these classics to fit in these modern times. The stories are now more inclusive of people of color and represent the people of today. Still charming and addictive, these stories now give us a new twist to the famed old tales. They have become popular among the teens swiftly. These retellings play a dominant part in the growing young adult genre and have taken up the book community with a storm.

Edmund Wilson said, “No two persons ever read the same book” and, thus, these retellings take us back to the world we already know but with a new twist. So what are some well-known books that one can start with?

Books like- These Violent Delights (Romeo and Juliet retelling), The Lunar Chronicles (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White retelling), Spin the Dawn (Mulan retelling), and Pride (Pride and Prejudice retelling) have taken the interests of people with their amazing but still true to the original plots, modern-day references, present time issues, morally grey antagonists and relatable protagonists. The nostalgia of the first time hits us along with the formation of a new memory. These stories only indicate the presence of literature, folklore, and fairytales in our lives is as strong as they were before. Times have changed and, so did the stories. It's like they have rewritten history.