Cinderella
Why is Cinderella such a universal story?
Popularly known through the1950 Disney film of the same name, Cinderella has become a childhood classic all over the world. But different versions of her story can be traced all the way from Asia to Africa and beyond. These variants provide a snapshot of the history and cultures from which they emerge, providing clues to the tale’s longevity. In this episode Sandra Kanthal asks: Why is Cinderella such a popular story to tell.
Guests:
Gessica Martini – PhD Student, Durham University
Juwen Zhang – Professor of Chinese, Willamette University
Rym Tina Ghazal – Author and Journalist
Ousseina Alidou – Professor of African Languages and Literatures, Rutgers University
Dee Dee Chainey – Author and Co-founder of Folklore Thursday
Editor: Richard Knight
Producer: Tural Ahmedzade
Photo: Cinderella About to Try on the Glass Slipper by Richard Redgrave
Credit: Historical Picture Archive/Corbis via Getty Images
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Mon 8 Apr 201912:32GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Mon 8 Apr 201917:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Mon 8 Apr 201921:06GMTBBC World Service
- Tue 9 Apr 201901:32GMTBBC World Service
- Mon 15 Apr 201908:06GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & East Asia only
- Sat 1 Aug 202022:32GMTBBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean
- Mon 3 Aug 202001:32GMTBBC World Service
- Mon 3 Aug 202008:06GMTBBC World Service
- Mon 3 Aug 202014:06GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Mon 3 Aug 202015:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Mon 3 Aug 202019:06GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
Get the podcast
Subscribe or download individual episodes for free
Why do we look the way we do?
Tattoos, trainers, jeans, hair, ties ... why?
Podcast
![]()
The Why Factor
The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions
