Once upon a time there was a queen who bore a son so ugly and misshapen that for some time it was doubtful if he would have human form at all. But a fairy who was present at his birth promised that he should have plenty of brains, and added that by virtue of the gift which she had just bestowed upon him he would be able to impart to the person whom he should love best the same degree of intelligence which he possessed himself.
This somewhat consoled the poor queen, who was greatly disappointed at having brought into the world such a hideous brat. And indeed, no sooner did the child begin to speak than his sayings proved to be full of shrewdness, while all that he did was somehow so clever that he charmed everyone.
I forgot to mention that when he was born he had a little tuft of hair upon his head. For this reason he was called Ricky of the Tuft, Ricky being his family name.
샤를 페로(프랑스어: Charles Perrault, 1628년 1월 12일 ~ 1703년 5월 16일)는 동화라는 새로운 문학 장르의 기초를 다진 프랑스 작가이다. 그의 작품에는 빨간 두건과 잠자는 숲 속의 공주, 장화 신은 고양이, 신데렐라, 푸른 수염, 엄지 공주, 다이아몬드와 두꺼비들, 당나귀 가죽, 어리석은 세가지 소원등이 있다. 페로가 쓴 유명한 이야기들은 오늘날까지 여전히 출판되고 있으며, 오페라와 발레(예. 차이콥스키의 잠자는 숲 속의 공주), 희곡, 뮤지컬, 영화(월트 디즈니의 유명한 애니메이션 영화인 신데렐라와 잠자는 숲속의 공주)로도 만들어졌다. 그 밖에 《루이 14세의 세기》 등의 저서가 있다.