Happily Never After

The Dark Side of Fairy Tales

Maybe fairy tales aren't so magical after all! From ancient myths to the Brothers Grimm, explore the subversive legacy and biases hidden behind the stories that shaped our childhood.

This best-selling and original graphic novel by French artist Lou Lubie explores, with sharp humor and satire, the original, unvarnished versions of classic tales where princes aren’t always charming and “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed. She examines big questions about the ethics of fairy tales such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, and more: the violence, sexism, and cultural biases within them, the changes in these tales according to who tells them, and how the newest interpretations have often been shaped by big corporations, like Disney.

About the author

Lou Lubie is a French graphic novelist celebrated for her insightful explorations of emotions, identity, and social issues. Originally from Réunion Island, she first gained recognition with A Fox in My Brain, a candid and deeply personal graphic novel about living with bipolar disorder, and later for publishing the internationally acclaimed graphic novel The Roots of My Hair. In addition to her work as an author, Lou Lubie founded the Forum Dessiné in 2008, a digital art platform that has connected thousands of illustrators worldwide. Her work combines honesty, sensitivity, and artistic creativity, earning her notoriety in both France and internationally. She lives in France.