Who wrote the original book Cinderella?

There isn't a single author who wrote the original Cinderella story. It's a folk tale that has been told and retold in many different cultures for centuries.

Here's a breakdown:

* Earliest Known Versions: The earliest known versions of the story can be traced back to ancient Egypt (around 1st century BC) and China (around 850 AD).

* European Origins: The story we know most closely is likely rooted in European folklore, appearing in French and Italian versions in the 15th century.

* Charles Perrault: The most well-known version of Cinderella comes from the French writer Charles Perrault, who published his version, *Cendrillon* (Cinderella), in his collection of fairy tales, *Tales of Mother Goose*, in 1697.

* Brothers Grimm: Another popular version was collected and published by the Brothers Grimm in their collection *Children's and Household Tales* (1812) as *Aschenputtel*.

So, it's more accurate to say that Cinderella is a folk tale, with various contributors throughout history, rather than having a single "original" author.