Vasilisa the Wise

Kate Forsyth, Lorena Carrington (Illustrator)

$9.99

Publication Date: March 1st, 2019

Publisher:

Kane Miller Books

ISBN:

9781610678520

Pages:

112

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Description

Once upon a time, these stories of magical transformation were meant for young women as they grew away from childhood and towards adulthood. They were told by their mothers and grandmothers and the wise women of the clan as they spun and wove and stirred their pots and made their potions. The heroines of these old tales set out on a difficult road of trials to discover their true destiny. And, contrary to popular opinion, marrying a prince was not the only goal. These ancient tales of wonder and adventure are about learning to be strong, brave, kind and true-hearted, and trusting in yourself to change the world for the better.

Praise for Vasilisa the Wise

"...this is the book you didn't know you deserved until it arrived. Fairytale feminism, old school style. ... None of the women and girls in this book is the anti-Cinderella. A lot of them fall in love at first sight, and many marry without much forethought. They also protect their sisters, use their brains (and sometimes whips), create, defend, and ultimately win. Because once in a while, it's nice to see the lady win. Don't you think?"

-- A Fuse #8 Production

“The language of Kate Forsyth’s feminist retellings is fresh and enchanting, and photographic artist Lorena Carrington’s intricately detailed digital-collage silhouette artwork (full-page illustrations and spot art) beautifully capture the mood of the tales.”

--Literacy Daily, “Books from Down Under”

"The intrepid young women in these thoughtfully chosen and sensitively updated folktales face deliciously thrilling dangers—a Baba-Yaga with “teeth of iron, sharpened to points,” a macabre faerie dance with music played on “instruments carved from bone and hung with teeth”—alongside deep heartbreaks: the theft of a baby, the loss of a beloved partner. Forsyth’s evocative language uses well-chosen detail—“the queen filled the silver cup... from the thorn-shadowed pool”—to conjure enchanted worlds, complemented by the ornate details in Carrington’s inky digital-collage silhouettes. Framing text situates each tale’s history, while story-specific comments by Forsyth and Carrington reveal their creative process and call attention to themes of female friendship and empowerment. The final tale, Mary de Morgan’s “The Toy Princess” from 1877, is a particular revelation, offering a startlingly modern take on the perils of traditional princessdom. "

-- Publishers Weekly