Byatt once again shows how she can mix literature, literary history and fantasy into a satisfying concoction that draws the reader into a compelling story. However the title story which is of novella length is worth the money spent on this collection. They are beautifully and precisely written, but at the end of the fourth story Dragon's Breath I was wondering whether these tales were just an exercise in the execution of fairy tales something along the lines of a famous author proving to herself that she can write in this vein. The first four stories are indeed pure fantasy fairy stories that take the reader back to a simple childhood fantasy land. The five stories that comprise The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye are as fascinating and finely crafted as ivory puzzles. Byatt, whose imaginative novels sparkle with layers of imagery and drama, focuses on the magic that is created each time a storyeller speaks.
But when she is given the fairy tale's three wishes-chances to alter her own story, the choices she makes are both timeless and surprisingly unique.Ī.S. She immerses herself in the study of fabulous, archetypical heroes: patient Griselda, lovely Scheherazade, brave Gilgamesh. The sturdy, middle-aged scholar travels the world, speaking at international conferences about the art of storytelling. Her wondrous fairy tales are iridescent stories full of spells, marvelous creatures, and beautiful princesses. Byatt, an author who continues to receive international awards and acclaim. Glowing with narrator Virginia Leishman's finely tuned phrasing, The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye is the perfect introduction to A.S.
0 kommentar(er)
