Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker

by Gregory Maguire

“The old-fashioned stories have always been with us, Dirkie. The cross was planted in the mouth of antiquity so modern faith could begin; but the old beliefs mumble from the ground. Those who halt their incessant prayers can hear the old stories telling themselves out loud. Indeed, I think that is what you do—that is your genius.”

“Who do you think really is the fairy godmother in those tales by the Brothers Grimm, those household märchen that they published to such success, but Athena herself? You must know Aschenputtel, the cinder-girl in the hearth? There’s a French version written up by Perrault—Cinderella, no less—and in that one, the girl is elevated by divine manipulation, she is so glorified and disguised that her own family can’t recognize her. Just like Odysseus, hidden in plain sight. The fairy godmother is Athena brought forward. Who else but Athena at the girl’s side to help with a carriage magicked up from a garden gourd of some sort, with mice for horses, and a rat for a coachman.” Dirk rolled his eyes toward the

Was music beautiful because it was full of mystery, Dirk wondered, or was it full of mystery because it was beautiful?

The vagabond human spirit requires a chart of possibilities in order to keep putting one foot in front of another, keep licensing the next heartbeat after the previous.