Today on The Easy Chair, “The Red Shoes.” This folk story was one I read obsessively when I was young. I was fascinated by it, though the morality lesson it imparts (that vanity is a cardinal sin, punishable by … amputation?!) is honestly gross and horrifying. I decided to share it with you: an old-school fairy tale about Karen, the pretty adopted daughter of a kind-hearted old lady. Karen covets a princess’s footwear, which is where her problems begin. Along the way is an angel, a creepy soldier, and of course, the executioner, all of which will make you think long and hard before buying a pair of red shoes. Join me for a cautionary tale you will find both quaint and disturbing.

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