SHADOW CASTLE

by Marian Cockrell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1945

For them as likes their fairy tales, complete with elves, leprechauns, goblins, dragons (a vegetarian one), enchantment and all the trimmings, here's this season's model. Lucy (a la Alice) follows a little dog down a dark tunnel, is led to an enormous enchanted castle with purple shadows, bona fide princes, hobgoblin door knobs and a handsome youth (but no figure of romance) who tells -- at too great length -- a number of stories about the fairy tale characters who inhabit this realm of mystery. Quite frankly I -- who like fairy tales in the established fashion, and am always hoping for good modern ones -- found this an eccentric blend which didn't meld -- the stories were too elaborate, the-what-happened-to-their-children-if-they-lived-happily-ever-after atmosphere as disillusioning as if we'd followed Cinderella's horses-into-rats home to their holes. Do children want to know? I don't think I did...All in all, an over-elaborated fantasy, rather charmingly dressed out with wood cut type of decorations by Olive Bailey -- and full pages that have a nostalgic swing-back to the past.

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1945

ISBN: 0899683150

Page Count: -

Publisher: Whittlesey House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1945

Categories: CHILDREN'S