THE ENCHANTED FOREST

by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 17, 1974

The original fairy tale by the nineteenth century French writer, in a free adaptation which limits its interest as a historical curiosity but does make it a more readable diversion for today's princess buffs. The heroine is Princess Goldenhair, whose wicked stepmother, Queen Meanette, bribes Greedykin, the coach boy, to drive the Princess into the Enchanted Forest, from which no one has ever returned. There in a castle the Princess is cared for by the kindly animals Gentle-doe and Bonny-cat, who put her to sleep for seven years, instructing her the while. . .so that she wakes to find herself a pretty young lady, ""much better educated"" than before, adept at drawing and harping and familiar with the contents of all the books in the library. Though effusively grateful, the Princess allows herself to be lured from the castle by a flattering parrot, and as a result of her bad faith, she must endure a period of lonely deprivation and a long turtleback journey before being reunited with Bonny-cat, now her bridegroom Prince Charming, and his mother the former doe. Madame de Segur's use of folklore motifs can be seductive even though all the arbitrary betrayals, punishments, and conditions here are totally lacking in moral significance, and one can see how the Princess' unique education, which gives us nightmares, could seem a dream come true to many a frustrated pupil. We can be grateful for even this indirect glimpse of the author who has been so popular in France, without anticipating a similar response here.

Pub Date: Oct. 17, 1974

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Atheneum

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1974

Categories: FICTION