THE WIND BOY (New edition)

Frankly, we cannot see why this book (originally published by Doubleday in 1830) should be reissued in new format. It still seems a not too successful mingling of fantasy and realism, a thinly stretched plot, somewhat moon struck, and confusing as to its values. The time is the present -- the story deals with a family of refugees who settle down in a hut by the side of a mansion occupied by a fabulously wealthy artist who supports the town. His poor little rich grandchild and the children from a foreign land are brought together by a maiden from the purple hills, a good fairy. The villain of the piece is a morality concept, the unhappy Wind Boy, more sinned against than sinning. The dream maiden, the magic shoemaker, the comic policeman, all create an opera bouff atmosphere, which has an appropriate conclusion when the mother of the refugee family turns cut to be a great artist, and her husband is found when the benevolent neighbor helps her to the fame she deserves.