Angela Carter was one of the most important modern fairy tale writers. After a brief career as a journalist, she switched to fiction, and critical essays, exploring magical realism, fantasy, and the reworking of traditional folk tales.
Her major novels include: The Magic Toyshop, The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman, Nights at the Circus and Wise Children. Her short story collections, The Bloody Chamber and Fireworks contain some of her most surprising takes on old stories.
In addition, she edited two volumes of The Virago Book of Fairy Tales.
Following her death in 1992, collections of her unpublished stories and critical work were released, including her essays on pantomime.
Her short story, The Company of Wolves, a reworking of the Little Riding Hood tale, was made into a major film, directed by Neil Jordan.