Exiled by Queen Mary in 1558, Kate Sutten ends up at the Perilous Gard, a remote and mysterious castle, full of superstitions. The lord's brother Christopher blames himself for the loss of his niece, but when Kate discovers there is a chance she is still alive--taken by the Fair Folk--he will do anything to get her back, even offer himself in exchange. But when Kate tries to help, she herself ends up in the clutches of the Fair Folk, with little hope of escape.
To my knowledge, Elizabeth Marie Pope only ever published two novels, but they are both winners. While The Sherwood Ring (1958) is a whimsical delight, The Perilous Gard (1974) is deeper, more layered--on the surface, it's another young adult retelling of a fairy tale, but there is surprising symbolism, the heart valued over beauty, and wisdom treated with a queenly reverence.
It's based on the ballad of Tam Lin, but more loosely (and tastefully) than some other retellings of the fairy tale. Kate is a sensible heroine; not a beauty like her sister, but innately practical and with surprising wisdom for one so young. She accepts who she is, clumsiness, plain features, and all. I love her friendship with Christopher, how she manages to draw out his dreams and gets caught up in them too. The development of her relationship with the fairy queen is also interesting to watch: she goes from essentially a domesticated animal to a favorite pet to a person to an equal.
I've never seen this marketed as anything but a fantasy, or maybe a historical fantasy (as it takes place in Tudor England), but it actually has a lot of Christian elements. Even in the midst of a fairy tale that feels like it has pretty pagan roots (though surprisingly little--if any--actual magic), the main character, Kate, lays out the gospel in simple, clear terms. And it's pretty easy how Christopher's actions are a reflection of Christ's.
It may be nearly 45 years old, but it is definitely a story that stands the test of time.
No comments:
Post a Comment