Godiva

by Lynn Cullen, Kathryn Hewitt (Illustrator)

With only her long hair as a cloak, Lady Godiva takes her heroic ride through the English village of Coventry in exchange for her husband's promise to lower the people's taxes.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Set · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a sweet short story about Godiva the good and kind and Lord Leofric the arrogant and selfish. There is something tender about the illustrations, although Godiva isn't very beautiful. The story is very nicely written for a younger audience. The moral of the story is that you can have all the gold in the world and not have happiness or you can have very little gold and find a lot of happiness through kindness.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Lynn Cullen and illustrator Kathryn Hewitt retell the medieval English legend of Lady Godiva in this lovely picture book, opening as the wealthy and powerful Lord Leofric, not as happy as he feels he should be, goes in search of a wife. Indifferent to the many ladies he meets at manor houses around the country, he finally finds his match in Godiva, the daughter of a cobbler. Falling deeply in love, Leofric and Godiva marry, and the former devotes himself to repairing and renovating his castle, hoping to make it a fit home for his new wife. That lady, in the meantime, spends her time with the peasants in the nearby village of Coventry, and is less-than-pleased to learn her husband is reducing them to hunger with his taxes. When her pleas that he reduce this burden fall on deaf ears, and she is met with the statement that only when she rides naked through the streets of Coventry will her husband lower the taxes, Godiva knows what she must do...

I know Lynn Cullen chiefly through The Mightiest Heart , her beautiful picture book retelling of the Welsh legend of Gelert the faithful dog, while Kathryn Hewitt is familiar to me because of the artwork she contributed to another medieval tale, Marguerite Makes a Book , written by Bruce Robertson. When I saw that these two collaborated on a retelling of the Godiva story, I was intrigued, particularly as I do not recall ever encountering another retelling of said tale for children. I enjoyed this version, which expands upon the story somewhat, making Godiva a cobbler's daughter, and Peeping Tom a young blind boy (rather than a voyeur who is struck blind). The theme of sacrificing for others is explored here, as is that of showing respect for the modesty of others by turning away from what one shouldn't see—something not so frequently explored in stories for children these days. I understand that there is a theory that the historical Godiva, the Anglo-Saxon Godgifu, might have made her ride (if she did at all) in a shift, which would have been scandalous enough at the time. In this telling however, the traditional legend is maintained, and Godiva rides naked through the town, covered by her flowing hair. In any case, this is one I would recommend to young folklore enthusiasts, and to anyone seeking a child-friendly retelling of this famous legend.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good moral and nice introduction to this historical legend.

[Tweety · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why I liked this book so much when I was eight -nine, I think it was her long hair. The pictures are brilliantly done and even though as one reviewer said the characters are a little young looking, it is still well worth glancing over. Most little girls would like this, even if they don't care for reading, as the pictures tell the tale.