Title: Breadcrumbs and Stones
Author: Lisa Goldstein
In: Snow White, Blood Red (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Retellings, War
Dates read: 12th April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Signet
Year: 1993
5th sentence, 74th page: There was no reason for us to stay.

A Holocaust retelling of Hansel and Gretel. A story filled with sadness and tragedy.

It’s kind of obvious from the title of this short story that this is a retelling and tale of Hansel and Gretel. But it wasn’t the kind of retelling that I was expecting. From beginning to end this was a bit of a surprise. Immediately I thought that this tale would be one in which the parent would betray her child (like in the original fairy tale).

The parallels drawn between Hansel and Gretel and the Holocaust are intense. Especially the use of ovens, betrayal and the sacrifice of children. It is a kind of heartbreaking story. Just like the original tale. Hansel and Gretel is kind of one of the most horrible fairy tales that I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. And the Holocaust is one of the most tragic tales of modern history. Mix them together… and wow, what a powerful, potent and very uncomfortable short story. But one that I can’t wait to read again and again and again.

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Image source: Amazon