Rapunzel Main

How the Library (Not the Prince) Saved Rapunzel is a humorous retelling of the classic fairy tale.

Story by Exeter writer is actress’s book at bedtime

Actress Emily Watson has chosen a children’s book by Exeter creative-writing lecturer Dr O’Shea-Meddour as the Cbeebies bedtime story.

How the Library (Not the Prince) Saved Rapunzel is a humorous retelling of the fairy tale, about the importance of books, reading, libraries and not just ‘doing your hair’ or ‘waiting for your prince’.

The book tells how Rapunzel, who lives at the top of a tall tower block, is inspired by the books she finds in the library, not the Prince who arrives with a bunch of flowers on a motor-scooter in leather trousers and shades.

Each evening on CBeebies, the children’s BBC channel, a celebrity reads a bedtime story before the channel goes off air for the evening.  

Emily Watson, who was acclaimed for her roles in Breaking the Waves, as cellist Jacqueline Du Pre in Hilary and Jackie and in the title role in Angela’s Ashes, chose Dr O’Shea-Meddour’s modern take on Rapunzel to mark World Book Day.

Dr Wendy O'Shea-Meddour is Creative Writing lecturer at the University of Exeter. Her children’s books have been translated into over 15 languages and described by the Children's Laureate as 'simply brilliant.'

She said: It was such a treat to hear Emily Watson read my pro-library Rapunzel story on Cbeebies’ Bedtime Story. Colleagues from the English Department have been wonderfully supportive and I’ve received lots of lovely messages.”  

Watch Emily Watson read the story here.

 

 

Date: 2 March 2018