Fairy tale treasures from Scotland

An introduction to the folklore surrounding selkies

Susan Reibel Moore | Nov 6 2017 | comment

Two Selkie Stories from Scotlandby Kate Forsyth; illustrated by Fiona McDonald
written for ages 9-12 | highly recommended
published in 2014 | Christmas Press | 32 pages

This introduction to folklore, suited for reading aloud to young children and to being read by older ones and adults, is so charming that I fell in love with it as quickly as a Scottish laird named Dougal McPhee falls in love with a Selkie woman when he sees her playing and dancing on a sandy beach. Many readers won't know, until they open the picture book's enchanting pages, that Selkies can cast their seal coverings and take on human forms at will, both on land and on sea. They also won't know, or be able to predict, what will happen when Dougal captures a Selkie and refuses to let her go, imprisoning her and then her baby girl in his castle. Day after day, singing, this beautiful Selkie bride lets us know exactly what she is feeling:

So sad and lonely am I since we met

I wish I could swim on my way,

Ye do not care that I fear and I fret,

Or that I long for the touch of sea spray

Both in ths first story, The Selkie Bride, and in the concluding tale, In the Kingdom of the Seals, the consequences of unjust imprisonment are vividly rendered. Of commanding interest in the second story is the fate of a seal hunter who believes that he must carry on his trade regardless of its effect on vulnerable Selkie families whose love for one another and harmonious delight in existence are deeply threatened. The results of a vow made by this hunter to a uniquely grateful Selkie are as memorable as the description of knife wounds sustained by his victims. Nobody, young or old, can fail to be touched by Kate Forsyth's evocation of gray bodies, twisting and looping with delight in brilliant blue water as they battle to retain a way of life too precious to disappear.

Every book published by Christmas Press in their Fairy Tales series is now a permanent feature of my family's most cherished book shelf. Two representative titles are Two Tales of Twins from Ancient Greece and Rome, retold by Ursula Dubosarsky, and Once Upon a Christmas Annual, retold by Beattie Alvarez, the daughter of Fiona McDonald.

Dr. Susan Reibel Moore first began publishing literary criticism in the 1970's. Her most recent book, the fourth edition of What Should My Child Read? (Five Senses Education, Sydney), will soon be out.

November 17, 2017

Australia will legalise same-sex marriage before Christmas and two articles today provide a commentary on what that means for dissenters. Retired Australian High Court judge Dyson Heydon, though he barely mentions the marriage issue, clearly had it in mind as he delivered a lecture in mid-October when the postal referendum was still under way and passions were at a pitch. Reflecting on elite opinion that already opposes any influence of religion in public policy, he foresees an era of religious persecution ahead. Zac Alstin, by contrast, finds himself at peace with the thought that Divine Providence will not be thwarted.

Margaret Harper McCarthy, writing in the American context, provides yet another perspective on religious freedom. Although Christian apologists have rightly joined debate over issues like transgenderism from the point of view of reason and natural law, she argues the central importance of Christian witnessing to the whole endeavour.

That argument could just as well be applied to the issue of cultural change that I deal with in my "post Weinstein" piece.

Do check out the other articles for great insights into simple things that can change lives; the plight of older Japanese men; how phonesare affecting teenagers' mental health; and a reminder about a much-loved adventure story. Oh, and the front page video about the rediscovered Leonardo da Vinci painting, "Salvator Mundi", which sold today for US$ 400 million plus $50m in commissions. There must be a parable in that somewhere.