The classic fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast” was first written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740.

However, the shorter, more familiar version most people know today was later rewritten by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont in 1756, and her adaptation became the best-known telling of the story.

Quick Scoop: Who wrote “Beauty and the Beast”?

The original author (1740)

  • The tale “La Belle et la Bête” (“Beauty and the Beast”) was written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve , an 18th‑century French novelist.
  • It appeared in 1740 in a collection titled “La Jeune Américaine et les contes marins” (“The Young American and Marine Tales”).
  • Villeneuve’s version is longer, more complex, and more detailed than the one commonly retold today.

In modern terms, Villeneuve wrote the “extended cut” of Beauty and the Beast.

The famous shortened version (1756)

  • In 1756, Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont , another French writer, published a much shorter, moral-focused retelling in Magasin des enfants (“Children’s Collection”).
  • Her version stripped the story down to fewer characters and clearer morals, making it ideal for children and education.
  • Because Beaumont’s adaptation spread widely in Europe, she is often (incorrectly) assumed to be the original author.

Why the credit gets confused

  • Villeneuve’s 1740 story was published anonymously and was later abridged without credit when Beaumont republished the tale.
  • Over time, the shorter children’s version became the standard text in collections and school editions, so Beaumont’s name stayed visible while Villeneuve’s faded.
  • Modern summaries and educational sites now explicitly point back to Villeneuve as the original creator , and to Beaumont as the key adapter.

Later retellings and “latest news”

  • In 1889, Andrew Lang included a retelling in his Blue Fairy Book , helping the story spread in English-speaking countries.
  • Since then, Beauty and the Beast has been adapted into countless books, stage versions, and films , including Disney’s classic animated and live‑action movies, all ultimately based on Villeneuve’s core tale and Beaumont’s streamlined structure.

Mini FAQ

  1. Who technically wrote “Beauty and the Beast”?
    • The original fairy tale : Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve.
 * The **most famous shortened version** : Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.
  1. Who wrote the 2017 movie script?
    • The live‑action Disney film’s screenplay was written by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.