Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

I really liked this story as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Per Ms. Napoli this story has roots from an earlier version told by a Mr. Lamb in the 1800's where the Beast was a Persian Prince.

The culture and faith of the Beast make for a nice change. In the story the Prince wasn't necessarily bad, just proud and thoughtless.

Prince Orasmyn is the son of the Shah and knows the Quran well. He takes joy from the simple things in life like the gardens he helps to design and flourish. When the Prince prepares a camel for sacrifice and knows that the animal has been defiled (already has known suffering) and then knowing that continues to prepare the animal to die an djinn or pari (a fairy) curses him to take the form of a beast stating that his own father (the Shah) will kill him tomorrow during a hunt where lions from India have been brought in for a special event.

The Prince manages to avoid death and decides to follow the caravan back to India. Orasmyn learns much about being a lion but almost looses himself as a man. The djinn had said only the love of a woman would break his spell. The Prince, remembering a tale from a visiting Frenchman, decides to go to France to try his luck there. Life as a lion is difficult and terribly lonely. Orasmyn stumbles upon an abandoned chateau and sets up shop. Everything must be stolen, something that goes against his very upbringing

It's really a well-written story about faith and perserverance and overcoming despair. The romantic aspect of Belle falling for the Beast almost seems incidental to the obstacles that Orasmyn is able to rise above.