Part 2: Remember the magic of 'Snow White and Rose Red'

Nevertheless, the author of Snow White and Rose Red obviously was very broad-minded, for she “translated” the timbres of linguistics into a comparable form of communication superior to modern English. Eloquent, witty, and richly detailed, Snow White and Rose Red is not a jumbled, unclear fairy tale. The storyline focuses again on two sisters, but they are extraordinary and quite “uncommon.” Intelligent and educated, Rosamund, Blanche, and their mother are fully aware of magic and its uses. They also live close by the border of Faerie, the magical world within the real world where the fey, or fairy folk, reside.

An enchanted prince, a terrible spell, wicked magicians, a Faerie queen, and two rosebushes—for once, magic has almost a tangible quality, especially when herbal medicine and nature take a major stand in its properties and purposes. However, Wrede molds her new ideas of fantasy and the role of the fey in both worlds with a touch of historical background and British folklore. Real life historical figures, myths, and religion make this “fairy tale” rejuvenate all elements that make a fantasy novel take shape and survive in a real world setting. Then there is of course the subject of romance, which is the story’s true cornerstone.

To be continued...

Snow White and Rose Red is available in local libraries and bookstores in Fresno, and online.