The Winter Wife: An Abenaki Folktale

by Anne Eliot Crompton (Retold By), Robert Andrew Parker (Illustrator)

A lonely hunter finds his wishes for a companion and successful hunting season coming true until he disobeys the command of his mysterious winter wife and takes a summer wife, too.

Genres: Picture Books, Folklore

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1975

About the author

Anne Eliot Crompton was a critically acclaimed writer of fiction for children, teenagers, and adults. Many of her novels draw from legends and folktales. Three are based on Arthurian legends: Merlin’s Harp, Gawain and Lady Green, and Percival’s Angel. Crompton created new fictions out of old by concentrating on the perspectives and emotions of characters who are slightly removed from the traditional plots. Crompton raised Shetland and Welsh ponies on her farm in Chesterfield, MA, and wrote a series of horse stories for girls which focus on the emotional bonds between humans and animals. In The Sorcerer, she imagined the artistic development of a prehistoric cave painter.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story of the lonely moose hunter is a variation on the widespread folk tale theme of a man taking a wife of supernatural origins, on the condition her keep a promise of some sort. This is not the most exciting retelling, and it isn't helped by the dull, watery illustrations. I tried not to look at them because they gave the unpleasant feeling that the people were melting.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abenaki folktale about a hunter who was hungry and cold and could catch no furs until he saw the moose. After that, he was never hungry or lonely because a woman appeared in his wigwam and became his wife. He left for the village each year and she refused to come. When he returned, and extremely strong child would have been born. When he marries a summer wife, she insists on coming the winter. The winter wife and children turn into moose. He follows and becomes one also.

Strange, haunting story. Pictures are ink and water color and have the same haunting feeling - illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Native American tales. I feel so sorry for the man who couldn't resist disobeying his wife's wishes. Robert D. San Souci also did a picture book version of this tale, entitled The Snow Wife. Both are good!