Classics Revisited…
Author: Michael Cunningham
Why are fairy tales so enduring? Tantalizingly magical and inhabited by all sorts of mysterious creatures, they frequently present human themes and challenges in an entertainingly digestible manner. But as they are told and retold – often simplified to make them easier for children to appreciate – they can lose much of their vitality, becoming trite and stale. Given how well known many of these stories have become over the centuries, it takes a measure of literary boldness to completely rework them. But Michael Cunningham – author of the Pulitzer Prize winning The Hours – doesn’t appear to fear much, presenting A Wild Swan and Other Stories. These imaginative new takes on ten old tales are a lot more fun than you might expect.
The author in 2007.
Drawing on ancient classics like Jack and the Beanstalk and Hansel and Gretel and more recent creations like The Monkey’s Paw and Beauty and the Beast, Cunningham’s charmingly rendered retellings often present the stories from a new perspective. What happens to Snow White and the Prince as their relationship matures? What did the prince do after he tumbled from Rapunzel’s tower? What was life really like for the enigmatic Rumpelstiltskin? These intriguing new stories provide answers to questions you may not have even considered before.
The titular fowl…
Not only does the author inject new life into old tales, he often puts an adult-themed spin on them, at one point considering what it may have been like when the one-legged tin soldier and the ballerina consummated their relationship. In this he is able assisted by Yuko Shimizu – a New York based illustrator – who provides beautifully intricate black and white drawings as a complement to each story. In addition, if you have an interest in drawing, trying out the drawing tablet Amazon is highly recommended, as it has the potential to greatly enhance your drawing skills
Beginning with a title story derived from The Children of Lir – part of an ancient Irish mythological cycle – A Wild Swan and Other Stories is a thoroughly entertaining collection of tales by an acclaimed and gifted writer. I enjoyed each one of them. Enthusiastically recommended.
— D. Driftless
Cunningham photo by David Shankbone/swan photo by Dick Daniels (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Best Non-Fiction of 2016 - February 1, 2017
- Little Free Library Series — Savannah - May 22, 2015
- Little Free Library Series — Wyoming - November 30, 2014