The pages are still bound together, with the exception of the first endpaper, but the boards have come almost completely loose from them. However, this is still an gorgeous antique with beautiful illustrations from the famous Armstrong sisters. I read it myself, and it was actually a fun read. It was a bit like a fairy tale or a medieval romance, with everyone getting their just desserts. The language is very simple, even for a modern reader, because it was originally intended for kids. Despite that factor, there are some interesting tropes and themes.