Gilly Martin the Fox

by Mollie Hunter, Dennis McDermott (Illustrator)

In a Scottish folktale, the Prince of Alban is sent on a dangerous mission by an evil witch, who plans to kill him even if he succeeds, and only shape-shifter Gilly Martin can help--if the prince is brave enough.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fairy Tales

36 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 1994

About the author

Maureen Mollie Hunter McIlwraith was a Scottish author. She wrote under the name Mollie Hunter. Mollie Hunter is one of the most popular and influential twentieth-century Scottish writers of fiction for children and young adults. Her work, which includes fantasy, historical fiction, and realism, has been widely praised and has won many awards and honors, such as the Carnegie Medal, the Phoenix Award, a Boston Globe - Horn Book Honor Award, and the Scottish Arts Council Award.

There has also been great interest in Hunter's views about writing fiction, and she has published two collections of essays and speeches on the subject. Hunter's portrait hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and her papers and manuscripts are preserved in the Scottish National Library.

Her books have been as popular in the United States as in the United Kingdom, and most are still in print. Critic Peter Hollindale has gone so far as to assert that Hunter "is by general consent Scotland's most distinguished modern children's writer."

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations in a style that resembles Richard Egielski's. Text graceful, but frustrating. Not only is our 'hero' not worthy of being a prince, but he and the trickster-like fox have no respect for other ppl's property. Not one of the creatures bested deserve to experience the loss they do. And the princess falls in love with this handsome young man knowing nothing except how foolhardy he is; she's not a character at all.

Brief author's note explains the source is an even longer story; maybe that 'version' makes more sense.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful watercolor and ink paintings accompany this Celtic folktale, skillfully retold by well-known Scottish author, Mollie Hunter. Hunter includes a short note regarding her sources for the tale. While I very much enjoyed this entertaining tale, I couldn't help but wonder why Gilly Martin, the fox, went to so much trouble to help the young prince. Unless he had a bone to pick with the witch as well.

[Fionnabird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started: 5/30/22
Finished: 5/30/33
Version Read: Harback
Price: Free from Husband's Library
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Summary: Gilly Martin the Fox goes on an adventure to help the Prince of Alban relieve himself of the curse the Witch of Alban put on him.

Likes: The art is absolutely gorgeous and a lot of the time while reading I got distracted looking at the way the artist used color, the textures, the composition and such.

Dislikes: The plot got repetitive, Prince needs something, fails to do what the fox advised, the adversary sends him on a fetch mission to get another object, rinse and repeat until the Prince wises up. I also dislike how the Prince tricks the princess, essentially kidnapping her but she falls for him anyway.

Wrap-up: A very gorgeously illustrated children's book with a fun story if you don't analyze it too closely.

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are beautiful and there are loads of them. They don't make books this beautiful anymore. Not one of my favourites but still a classic.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, but mediocre illustrations.