Hello and welcome to a crisp, sunny fall Saturday here at the Wannaskan Almanac. Today is September 18th.
Happy Pub Day to my writer peep Margaret McNellis who releases her debut novel, The Red Fletch, today! A Robin Hood retelling, this book has been praised as "a solid debut, likely to capture younger audiences and adults alike" by Reedsy reviewer Beatrice Grasso.
More from Grasso:
"The Red Fletch is a gorgeous retelling of the well-known Robin Hood legend, looking at the famous outlaw through the eyes of a young woman desperate to fight for her family. This book takes a beloved legend and turns it into a highly original and engaging story, full of twists and turns. The characters we all know and love, like Robin and Marian, Little John, Friar Tuck and the Merry Many (not just men!), are all there, and are joined by an impressive original cast that will be hard to forget.
Alys is a fantastic main character, full of spirit and wit, not afraid to go against the limits imposed on her by society because of her sex. Her growth arc was a joy to follow, as she learns things the hard way and works hard to correct her mistakes, ultimately having to decide just how much she is willing to risk to do the right thing. I also loved the asexual/aromantic representation in this.
The plot is gripping and the stakes are high, and I found myself quickly turning the pages to see what would happen next. Still, the author managed to weave in several more reflective moments, dealing with a wide range of issues and questions of justice, identity, ethics and morality that kept me mulling over them long after the final page had turned." (Source)
I personally enjoy retellings of tales and all the (re)imagining the artist/author puts into them. I once saw a punk version of a Shakespearean play (which one, I've forgotten) and was thrilled by both the interpretation - I recognized and understood the cultural references which helped me navigate all the iambic pentameter - and the timelessness of theme which, knowing Shakespeare, is usually a hearty cycling through ambition, love, power, triumph, and demise. Although sometimes, like in my favorite Shakespeare play, Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare shakes things up by ending on triumph. I was once cast as "audience member" for this play which involved heckling from a front-row seat in a time period dress and a fancy up-do. My favorite retelling of this play is 10 Things I Hate About You.
Plenty of literary academics assert that all stories are based on one of seven main storylines anyway: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, The Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth.
According to this 2010 article, The most retold stories of all time, the release of Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, featuring Russell Crowe, was the 53rd adaptation of Robin Hood. Another Robin Hood film was released in 2018, And let us not forget the hat tip to Robin Hood elements in Shrek.
I think about cultures where oral tradition dominates and, I wonder, isn't every generation's telling of the original story a type of retelling?
Fishing and hunting stories are the epitomai of Wannaskan (re)storytelling.
My kids don't know Robin Hood yet. Maybe the older kids have read a Czech-language version, but the littles for sure haven't. "Nope. Who's Robin Hood?" the Fourth Grader just replied when I asked her. Followed by: "When can you make me lunch?"
But what my kids do know is adventure and playing in the forest. Last weekend, they made up their own story about good guys and bad guys hiding and seeking in the woods. I wasn't thrilled by the title of their story game, "The Shooting Game," but at least their "guns" were fashioned out of sticks and they were outdoors for two hours using only their imaginations.
The Fourth Grader has a penchant for stories that are "at least a hundred years old" (her words). So, as I delve into The Red Fletch while swinging in the hammock enjoying this gorgeous day, I will be thinking about how to share this legend with them. A good start might be gathering sticks for arrows and feathers for fletching for the next outdoor adventure.
On This Day
Historic Highlights (credits)
Happy Birthday to You!🎶
Remembering You
Hey there,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the ol' stories are still rumbling around your house. You probably recall that "The One" is loosely based on "The Odyssey." Also, maybe you enjoyed my recent post that featured a reprise of Dylan Thomas' " Fern Hill." I'm not comparing myself with the authors of these two pieces; however, they do provide plenty of inspiration. Here's to grand plagiarism - sort of!