Heidi Anne Heiner's Blog, page 59

Preorder Available for Science Fiction Inspired Snow White: Jupiter Ascending

Jupiter Ascending (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD +UltraViolet Combo Pack) is now available for preorder for those who are curious about the film. I like to preorder because I often win on pricing that way when random drops take the price lower.

Gypsy over at Fairy Tale News did such a great job covering this film--for years until its final release!--that I didn't think to add anything about it here. I haven't seen it yet but I am curious. Science fiction is a love of mine and this film fascinates in theory but I am still cautious. But I plan to see it this summer when it is released to DVD. I have little interest in seeing most films in the theatre any more. And DVDs are so much more fun with the opportunities to watch extras and such in the comfort of my own home.

I am also curious about the Snow White elements to the story and how much they survived. Did anyone else see this and enjoy it? I know John my Beloved will be happy to watch it with me.

Water Sprite Poetry for the Day: Sabrina Fair

Back in February, I finally had the opportunity to see a production of the original Sabrina Fair by Samuel Taylor at a local theatre. This has been a bucket list item for me for decades. Yes, I am strange. John my Beloved and I battled icy roads to go see this and it was even better than I anticipated, certainly my favorite version of the story, better than either movie actually. I came down with a severe cold soon after so I forgot to go back and reread this poem I offer again below for National Poetry Month, a reposting of a 2011 post. Little did I know then that  Mermaid and Other Water Spirit Tales From Around the World would become one of the most popular titles in the SurLaLune Fairy Tale series.
    One of my favorite classic movies as a teen was Sabrina starring Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. It's not a perfect movie and even flawed in places, but I adored it all the same. A few years later the movie was remade with Julia Ormond, Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear and I enjoyed that one, too, despite its flaws. At that point I was in college and was able to learn more about the movie's history thanks to news articles and access to more information although the internet as an information tool was just blossoming. I special ordered a copy of the original play, Sabrina Fair by Samuel Taylor from my university bookstore and was charmed by it, too.

But today we are talking about Sabrina or Sabrina Fair whose name is important to some degree in all three renditions. From the 1995 film:

Linus Larrabee: So, that really is a beautiful name. How did you get it?
Sabrina: My father's reading. It's in a poem.
Linus Larrabee: Oh?
Sabrina: "Sabrina fair, listen where thou art sitting under the glassy, cool, translucent wave, in twisted braids of lilies knitting the loose train of thy amber-dropping hair."

****

Linus Larrabee: [pause] So, your little poem - what does it mean?
Sabrina: It's the story of a water sprite who saved a virgin from a fate worse than death.
Linus Larrabee: And Sabrina's the virgin.
Sabrina: [quietly] Sabrina's the savior.

You can read the similar conversation in the original play here on pages 41-42. In that version, I learned that the poem was from John Milton's play, Comus. You can read an online version of Comus here or read about it on Wikipedia.



Sabrina, as a water sprite, is referenced frequently enough in literature beyond the Sabrina play/films that I decided to include the excerpt from Comus in Mermaid and Other Water Spirit Tales From Around the World since her semi-fame was brought about by the play. Alas, these days the name is more often associated with witches thanks to shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but she was a princess and then a water sprite, not a witch in folklore.
Milton didn't invent the character, however. Sabrina—also known as Sabre, Severn, Hafren, Habrena—first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1136). A princess who drowned in the river Severn, she later became a goddess associated with the river.

I'm only going to include the first part of the excerpt since it is rather long overall. Most quotes only use the short Sabrina Fair sequence that appears in the play/films. But I am including the part previous to that which describes Sabrina to the audience.

SPIRIT: There is a gentle Nymph not far from hence,
That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream:
Sabrina is her name: a virgin pure;
Whilom she was the daughter of Locrine,
That had the sceptre from his father Brute.
She, guiltless damsel, flying the mad pursuit
Of her enraged stepdame, Guendolen,
Commended her fair innocence to the flood
That stayed her flight with his cross-flowing course.
The water-Nymphs, that in the bottom played,
Held up their pearled wrists, and took her in,
Bearing her straight to aged Nereus’ hall;
Who, piteous of her woes, reared her lank head,
And gave her to his daughters to imbathe
In nectared lavers strewed with asphodil,
And through the porch and inlet of each sense
Dropt in ambrosial oils, till she revived.
And underwent a quick immortal change,
Made Goddess of the river. Still she retains
Her maiden gentleness, and oft at eve
Visits the herds along with twilight meadows,
Helping all urchin blasts, and ill-luck signs
That the shrewd meddling Elf delights to make,
Which she with pretious vialed liquors heals:
For which the Shepherds, at their festivals,
Carol her goodness loud in rustic lays,
And throw sweet garland wreaths into her stream,
Of pansies, pinks, and gaudy daffadils.
And, as the old Swain said, she can unlock
The clasping charm, and thaw the numbing spell,
If she be right invoked in warbled song;
For maidenhood she loves, and will be swift
To aid a virgin, such as was herself,
In hard-besetting need. This will I try,
And add the power of some adjuring verse.

Song for Sabrina

Sabrina fair,
Listen where thou art sitting
Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave,
In twisted braids of lilies knitting
The loose train of thy amber-dropping hair;
Listen for dear honour’s sake,
Goddess of the silver lake,
Listen and save!

Bargain Ebook: A Plague of Unicorns by Jane Yolen for $.99

A Plague of Unicorns by Jane Yolen is on sale in ebook format for 99 cents.

Book description:

Young James, an earl’s son, is a bit bothersome and always asking the oddest questions. In despair—the last of James’ tutors having quit—his mother sends him off to be educated at Cranford Abbey. She feels the strict regimen will do him a world of good. But Cranford Abbey has its own problems. It has been falling into disrepair. The newly appointed Abbot Aelian takes it upon himself to save the abbey with the use of his secret weapon: a recipe for golden apple cider passed down in his family for many generations. He believes that by making and selling the cider, the monks will raise necessary funds to restore the abbey to its former glory. Abbot Aelian has everything he needs—almost. One obstacle stands in his way, unicorns that happen to feast specifically on the golden apples. Abbot Aelian and his men must fight off the unicorns to make the cider. He and the monks try to form a battalion to fight off the beasts; next they import heroes to fight for them. But the heroes run off, monks are injured, and a herd of ravenous unicorns continue munching. After no success, the abbot finally calls upon the most unlikely of heroes, one suggested by no other than young James. That hero is small and unprepossessing but possesses the skill to tame the beasts. Though wildly skeptical, Abbot Aelian must risk everything and believe in this recommended stranger or risk the fall of Cranford Abbey.

New Release: Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff

(US/UK Links)
Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff is released this week in the US and UK. See Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk (UK Link). Shurtliff previously wrote Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin, so this may be a continuing series.

Book description:

Fans of Adam Gidwitz and Chris Colfer will give a GIANT cheer for this funny fairytale retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk!

All work and no play makes Jack extremely bored. And when Jack gets bored, he makes mischief. It’s not that he’s bad; he just longs for adventure—and there’s nothing adventurous about toiling day and night to grow yucky green stuff.

Adventure finally arrives one day in the form of giants, and soon Jack is chasing them to a land beyond the clouds, with his little sister, Annabella, in tow. The kingdom of giants is full of slugs the size of sheep, venomous pixies as tall as grown men, and a chatty cook with the biggest mouth Jack has ever seen. There’s giant fun to be had, too: puddings to swim in, spoons to use as catapults, monster toads to carry off pesky little sisters. . . .

But Jack and Annabella are on a mission. The king of the giants has taken something that belongs to them, and they’ll do anything—even dive into a smelly tureen of green bean soup—to get it back.

Fairy Tales of the World: ITAKA Foundation: Happily ever after

ITAKA Foundation: Happily ever afterSometimes it is easier to draw something than to name your emotions. Learn more about child depression, enter www.stopdepresji.pl Help your child to find themselves before they get lost.
Another serious issue with a fairy tale used as the vehicle for the message. Effectively done. Kudos. And so often I wonder if the Fairy Tales of the World feature on the blog is too heavy for a Friday morning. But these are important issues that don't get the weekend off either.

Campaign info from Ads of the World:

Advertising Agency: AS AP, Warsaw, Poland
Art Directors: Ania Pisarska, Tobiasz Cechowicz
Copywriters: Asia Leszczyńska, Adam Sierociński
Illustrator: Antoni Serkowski
Published: June 2013

Fairy Tale Reverso Poems for National Poetry Month

Has it really been FIVE years since Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems by Marilyn Singer was released? I was contemplating poetry posts since April is National Poetry Month and many favorites came to mind. Then I remembered Singer's work and got all sparkly thoughts again. This book and the companion book, Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems, are favorites on my fairy tale poetry shelf. I have some sample pages from the second book below with some of the reverso poems to read. Reversos are poems that read backward and forwards (by lines) with some punctuation changes and doing so reverses their meanings and/or perspectives, too. They are so clever and fun and I adore these.

And the illustrations by Josee Masse fit the illustrations perfectly and colorfully. These should be owned in hardcover. It's the best way to enjoy them and that's from a confirmed ebook addict.

Publisher's description for Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems:

What’s brewing when two favorites—poetry and fairy tales—are turned (literally) on their heads? It’s a revolutionary recipe: an infectious new genre of poetry and a lovably modern take on classic stories.

First, read the poems forward (how old-fashioned!), then reverse the lines and read again to give familiar tales, from Sleeping Beauty to that Charming Prince, a delicious new spin. Witty, irreverent, and warm, this gorgeously illustrated and utterly unique offering holds a mirror up to language and fairy tales, and renews the fun and magic of both.

Images from Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems. You can click on the image to get a larger version for easier viewing:

From France: Le Petit Chaperon rouge illustrated by Joanna Concejo

Le Petit Chaperon rouge illustrated by Joanna Concejo is a French picture book of Little Red Riding Hood. I've not seen the book itself, but I discovered some illustrations that may appear in the book on Concejo's blog here and here. The illustrations are interesting and I am curious as to how the tale is presented, but the description and reviews are for other editions of the tale.

New Release: The Lady Meets Her Match by Gina Conkle

The Lady Meets Her Match (Midnight Meetings) by Gina Conkle was released this week. It's the second in Conkle's fairy tale romance series that began with last year's release of Meet the Earl at Midnight (Midnight Meetings). I don't devote much blog space to romance novels since they are harder to track and I find of overall lesser interest to readers here, but when I see a series, I try to share here. I'm always fascinated by the ways any fairy tale is reinterpreted in almost any genre. The new book is a Cinderella retelling while the first, Meet the Earl at Midnight (Midnight Meetings), is a Beauty and the Beast retelling.

Book description for The Lady Meets Her Match (Midnight Meetings):

LOCATING HER IS ONLY HALF THE BATTLE

Cyrus Ryland didn't become England's wealthiest bachelor by being a pushover, but the mysterious beauty he discovers sneaking around at his grand ball enflames his curiosity. When the clock chimes midnight and she's nowhere to be found, Cyrus vows to scour all of London to uncover who she is. Little does he know that not only does Claire Mayhew not want to be found, but she wants nothing to do with him at all...

Book description for Meet the Earl at Midnight (Midnight Meetings):

It's going to take a Beast to tame this Beauty

The Enigma Earl. The Lord Phantom. That's what the gossip pages call Lord Greenwich, a mysterious nobleman who doesn't show his face in London Society. With a reputation like that, it's no wonder that Lydia Montgomery is horrified to be dragged from bed and packed off to live with him to save her mother from penury.

While Lydia has received all of the training a lady should endure, she's decidedly un-ladylike. She despises her corset and isn't interested in marriage; in fact, she would prefer to remain unmarried so that she can spend her time improving her art. But if she wants a chance at happiness, she'll have to set aside her fear of Lord Greenwich and discover the man hiding behind the beast.

New Release: The Crystal Heart by Sophie Masson

(Amazon US/UK Links)
The Crystal Heart by Sophie Masson was released in late 2014 and somehow I never posted a book announcement about it! Masson is an Australian author whose books are published internationally much to our benefit. She has written several fairy tale rifacimenti with this book being the latest. See The Crystal Heart (UK Link) if you prefer.

Book description:

A girl in a tower. An underground kingdom. This retelling of Rapunzel offers a gripping blend of magic, romance, adventure, fairytale, and mystery.

When 17-year-old army conscript Kasper Bator is chosen to join the elite guard that keeps watch over a dangerous prisoner in a tower, he believes what he's been told: the prisoner is a powerful witch. But when he meets the prisoner, Kasper's life will change forever—for the prisoner is no witch, but a beautiful young girl. The daughter of the country's enemy, the Prince of Night, Izolda has been held hostage since she was three. And she is in imminent danger, for a prophecy says she must die on her 16th birthday if Krainos is to be saved from the Prince of Night. Kasper decides to help her escape. As the days pass, their friendship turns into real love, but their hiding place won't stay safe forever.

PS: Rifacimento, n.; pl. Rifacimenti . A remaking or recasting; an adaptation, esp. of a literary work or musical composition. This is my new word of the month. Rifacimentos was also offered as a plural in some of the online dictionaries I consulted. Very hoity toity word but fun. Found it in an older folklore article myself.

New Release: Palace of Lies (The Palace Chronicles) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

(US/UK Links)
Palace of Lies (The Palace Chronicles) by Margaret Peterson Haddix is released this week in the US and UK. See Palace of Lies (Palace Chronicles) (UK Link). This is the third book set in this world, not technically a series but companion novels. The book appears to draw some inspiration from The Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Book description:

Desmia discovers the reality of royalty is far from a fairy tale in this third adventure set in the Cinderella-esque world of Just Ella and Palace of Mirrors, from New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Desmia and her twelve sister-princesses are ruling Suala together at last, a united front. The kingdom seems to have finally gotten its happily ever after, but Desmia, trained by a lifetime of palace intrigue, is not so sure. She desperately wants to believe all is well, but she can’t help seeing danger around every corner.

And then the unthinkable happens, and Desmia’s worst fears are confirmed. Now, without the support of the sister-princesses she’s grown to rely on or the trappings of royalty that have always convinced people to listen to her, Desmia must find the courage to seek out the truth on her own terms—and to determine the course of two kingdoms.