The Maid of the North weaves together tales about a woman's right to freedom of will and choice. In this collection of mostly nineteenth-century folk and fairy tales, Phelps's heroines successfully portray women as being spirited, courageous and smart. This type of heroine is not easily found in most collections; in most traditional folk and fairy tales we encounter women are portrayed as being good, obedient, submissive, and, of course, beautiful. These women -- and girls -- are resourceful; they take action to solve a problem and use cleverness or shrewd common sense to solve the dilemmas they face.
The tales themselves are part of an oral tradition that document a generation according to the values of the time. Phelps shapes each story -- adding or omitting details -- to reflect her sense of a feminist folk or fairy tale, creating a collection in which women play a leading or crucial role in the story.
"Twenty-one folk and fairy tales featuring women as heroic, clever figures . . . They are delightful tales from a variety of ethnic andcultural backgrounds, including Scandinavian, American Indian, Japanese, Celtic, East Indian, and Russian." -- Booklist
Recommended Age | 9 and up |
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Author | Ethel Johnston Phelps |
Illustrator | Lloyd Bloom |
ISBN | 0030568935 |
Publication Date | Sep 15, 1982 |
Publisher | Holt Paperbacks |
Language | English |