Bettelheim, Bruno, The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Significance of Fairy Tales, Alfred A. Knopf, 1976.

Any student interested in fairy tales should be familiar with this influential study of their symbolic meanings and psychological significance. Though Carter often disagreed with Bettelheim's conclusions, they surely influenced her.

Carter, Angela, Nothing Sacred: Selected Writings, Virago, 1982.

A collection of Carter's nonfiction, this volume sheds light on the author's views on feminism, politics, and literature, as well as offering some interesting autobiographical insight.

Lee, Allison, Angela Carter, Twayne Publishers, 1997.

Though it focuses primarily on her novels rather than her short stories, this brief, clearly written study is a helpful introduction to the themes and issues driving Carter's imagination.

Sage, Lorna, Angela Carter, Northcote House, 1994.

This literary biography was written by one of Carter's earliest critics, who was also a close friend. It discusses the relationship between themes in her...