Why Are There So Many Retellings (And Why Are They So Popular)

From classic fairytales set in space to Shakespeare favorites set in present day, retellings are everywhere and readers love them.

So what is it about these stories that make authors rewrite them and readers devour them?

The Source Material

Retellings are almost always based on famous stories such as Sherlock Holmes or Jane Eyre. These are beloved pieces of literature that have influenced people of all ages and backgrounds for decades and sometimes even centuries.

If you mentioned either of the above books to a random person on the street, they would most likely know exactly what you are talking about.

Because these stories are so universally beloved, they make a great jumping-off point for authors. The base for the story already exists, so the author can focus putting their spin on it.

Keeping Up With The Times

Ever wonder why old movies get remade and remade again? Besides the fact that it makes more money, it also reintroduces popular stories to audiences, often in a way that easy for them to understand.

The same goes for books. Not everyone is able to connect with 16th century literature as easily as they can with something more modern. This is why you see so many different versions of classic stories.

Breathing New Life

If you hear the same story 12 million times exactly the same way, it will be boring by the 12 million and first time.

But if you change it up, it becomes a completely new story. Take Cinderella for example, this is one of the most famous stories of all time, but it keeps being retold. Why? Because every writer that takes it on has unique perspective of the story.

With these perspectives comes a breath of fresh air, a new lease on the life of the story.

Retellings Sell Well

Whether any of us want to admit it or not, the publishing industry is about making money. Because of this, publishers will put out books that they think are guaranteed to make money.

Because of the familiarity with and love for classic stories, publishers will often publish retellings because they are seen as a likely source of income for the company.

People Can’t Get Enough

As I mentioned above, publishers often look at retellings as surefire bestsellers. The reason for this is because readers love them. There’s comfort in a story you already know and love which makes people more likely to buy them.

Final Thoughts

Even with updates and changes made to these favorite stories, the heart is still there. They show thrill of true love and prove that good triumphs over evil.

They give us hope and teach us look beyond ourselves to find truth and love.

What do you like about retellings? Let me know in the comments.