Ortberg’s follow-up to their hilarious take on the Western literary canon, Texts from Jane Eyre, is a collection of folk tales, fairy tales, and Bible stories told as you’ve never heard them told before. Drawn from the popular Toast series, “Children’s Stories Made Horrific,” the book presents familiar figures including the Little Mermaid, Mr. Toad, the Velveteen Rabbit, and the Frog Prince, but draws out new facets of their characters and relationships. Genders are fluid, emotions are complex and often alarming. With the wit and ingenuity of a careful reader, Ortberg boldly plays up the unconventional that’s long been lurking within these beloved plotlines.
Ortberg will be in conversation with Nicole Chung, managing web editor of Catapult and former managing editor of The Toast.