- Source
- Dove Isabeau
- written by Jan Yolen
- illustrated by Dennis Nolan
- Harcourt Brace: San Diego, 1989
- The Story
- In the olc northern shore of Craig's Cove, Dove Isabeau, daughter of
Lord Darnton, is loved by all, but most of all she is loved by the king's
son, Kemp Owain. When Isabeau's mother dies and her father's new wife
envious and mad at her beauty & innocence. The only company Isabeau has
is her mother's white cat. Lord Darnton's new wife is in fact a witch
and casts an evil spell that turns Isabeau into a red winged wyrm. Nine
and Ninety young men in the kingdom are killed and devoured by the red
dragon when attempting to slay her. Kemp Owain, summoned back from the
sea, sets out to slay the dragon. On his way to the dragon, instructed
by the white cat, Kemp Owain learns that the only way to save Dove
Isabeau is to give the red dragon three kisses. Doing so, however, will
turn himself into stone. The deed is done and the sorrowful Isabeau
avenges Kemp Owain by killing her stepmother. The happy ending occurs
when the white cat, with the last part of magic left in her, licks the
stone Kemp Owain back to life. They wed and rule the kingdom together.
- Comments
- The winged dragon has reddish scales over her face and limbs. A
sinius twisting tail stretches long behind her. Dennis Nolan has created
a truely frightening beast with sharp niddle-like teeth and pupils only
slits. Her snout is the classic long and slim dragon snout. The size of
the dragon is also tremendous. It is described that when kemp Owain
looks deep inside, through the outside form, he can see the shadow of the
weeping fair maiden. In the end,, it seems that because Isabeau has been
a dragon that has consumed the blood of the young men, there is an
admirable fire within her that delights Kemp Owain. She is called by him
lovinly "glorious dragon queen. They rule the kingdom together.
Comparative Note:
| This story seems to be fleshed out
on the same bone structure of The Loathsome Dragon by
David Wiesner and Kim Kahng. Although Yolen does not
give any source note, nor seem to regard this
anything but a pure literary creation. The
relationship of the male and female protagonists
change from borther and siter to lovers. The added
elements of the cat, which apparently to be the
spirit of Isabeau's dead mother and the danger of
becmoing stone created more tension in the narrative.
This narration is fuller, the characters are better
realized. The description of Isabeau the red dragon
shedding tears as she gnaws on the young men's bones
is more powerful. |
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Introduction/Index