Penned in the 17th century, Blue Beard is a classic thriller, and certainly one of the most dramatic folk tales in all of French literature. Here, the atmosphere of every scene is enhanced by intriguingly modern sound design, offering another dimension for listening.

The setting is wealthy French society, in all its richness and style. The tension created by the young wife’s breaking of a taboo and her building fear of her villainous husband; the curiously magical power of the words of the heroine’s sister as she calls out in secret; the climax of the story with the rapid intercutting between characters — all make for a tale that begs to be read aloud.

Perrault’s morals in verse are given in both French and English. The skillful narration overall draws the listener into every nuance of this timeless story.