“The Heart of Princess Joan” is a fairy tale that was published in 1880 within a collection entitled The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde and other Stories, authored by popular children’s writer of the day, Mary de Morgan and illustrated by Walter Crane. This was the second of three published collections of fairy tales by Mary de Morgan.
About the Author
editBorn in 1850 into an intellectual and creative British family, Mary de Morgan perfected her craft of telling original fairy tales to the children of family friends, who included the Burne-Jones, Morrises, and the Kiplings.[1] [2] [3] In fact, “The Heart of Princess Joan” is dedicated, with the other stories in the collection to her nephews and nieces.[4] James Fowler remarks that “she seems to represent a full flowering of the Victorian fairy-tale genre…”[5]
1880 Release Announcement in the Times
edit“Ready this day, extra fep., 8 vo., 6s, The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde, and other Stories, By Mary de Morgan. With 25 Illustrations by Walter Crane. Also an edition on large paper, the illustrations on India paper, limited to 100 copies.”[6]
Literary Review
editAlthough de Morgan’s stories, including “The Heart of Princess Joan,” have a somewhat folk-like feel, they are original and recorded in a style similar to that of Hans Christian Anderson.[7] [8] This might be due to the fact that they were told to children before their final form was decided on and published.[9] [10] This story in particular draws on the themes of enduring love and personal sacrifice, which are manifested by the hero, Prince Michael; these are reoccurring theme in de Morgan’s stories. [11] Although de Morgan’s fairy tales usually comment on Victorian culture, there are no clear parallels found in “The Heart of Princess Joan.”[12]
Published Collections
edit- On a Pincushion (1877)
- The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde and other Stories (1880)
- The Windfairies (1900)
- ^ Carpenter, Humphrey and Mari Prichard. The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature.Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984. 145.
- ^ Fowler, James. “The Golden Harp: Mary de Morgan’s Centrality in Victorian Fairy-Tale Literature.” Children’s Literature 33 (2005): 224-236. Project Muse. John Hopkins University Press. 4 Feb. 2013. http://muse.jhu.edu.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/journals/childrens_literature/v033/33.1fowler.html. 224-225.
- ^ Crawford, Alan. “Morgan, William Frend De (1839–1917)”. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, (Oct 2009). http://www.oxforddnb.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/view/article/32779. 4 Feb 2013.
- ^ De Morgan, Mary. “The Heart of Princess Joan.” The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde and Other Stories. Edinburgh: R.&R. Clark, 1880. David Edwards and Josephine Paolucci, Comp. The Project Gutenberg. 25 Feb. 2012., http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38976/38976-h/38976-h.htm#front.1 Feb 2013.
- ^ Fowler, James. “The Golden Harp: Mary de Morgan’s Centrality in Victorian Fairy-Tale Literature.” Children’s Literature 33 (2005): 224-236. Project Muse. John Hopkins University Press. 4 Feb. 2013. http://muse.jhu.edu.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/journals/childrens_literature/v033/33.1fowler.html. 224.
- ^ “The Times Column of New Books and New Editions.” Times [London, England] 29 Oct. 1880:10. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
- ^ Carpenter, Humphrey and Mari Prichard. The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature.Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984. 145.
- ^ Fowler, James. “The Golden Harp: Mary de Morgan’s Centrality in Victorian Fairy-Tale Literature.” Children’s Literature 33 (2005): 224-236. Project Muse. John Hopkins University Press. 4 Feb. 2013. http://muse.jhu.edu.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/journals/childrens_literature/v033/33.1fowler.html. 224.
- ^ Fowler, James. “The Golden Harp: Mary de Morgan’s Centrality in Victorian Fairy-Tale Literature.” Children’s Literature 33 (2005): 224-236. Project Muse. John Hopkins University Press. 4 Feb. 2013. http://muse.jhu.edu.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/journals/childrens_literature/v033/33.1fowler.html. 225.
- ^ Cott, Jonathan, ed. “Mary De Morgan.” Beyond the Looking Glass: Novels, Stories & Poetry from the Victorian Era. New York: Stonehill Publishing, 1973. 162.
- ^ Fowler, James. “The Golden Harp: Mary de Morgan’s Centrality in Victorian Fairy-Tale Literature.” Children’s Literature 33 (2005): 224-236. Project Muse. John Hopkins University Press. 4 Feb. 2013. http://muse.jhu.edu.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/journals/childrens_literature/v033/33.1fowler.html. 225.
- ^ Fowler, James. “The Golden Harp: Mary de Morgan’s Centrality in Victorian Fairy-Tale Literature.” Children’s Literature 33 (2005): 224-236. Project Muse. John Hopkins University Press. 4 Feb. 2013. http://muse.jhu.edu.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/journals/childrens_literature/v033/33.1fowler.html. 226.