Check nearby libraries
Buy this book
The "The Woman Who Loved an Octopus" is an inspired collection of stories, based on the lives and legends of thirteen Celtic women saints from the first millennium. The legends, some well-known, others almost forgotten, are told in a clear, assertive and memorable way. These stories are not historical tracts or faithful retellings: often Herrad selects elements of a myth as the framework within which to construct a new story, flooding the old with a fresh or rediscovered meaning. Roughly half are set in the present, the rest in the saint's time, a mix that frees the narratives from anachronism by faithfulness to the spirit of the original. They revive an early world of saints often far from 'saintly' by current definitions. Nor are they archetypal, ranging from a 'God's strongest woman' circus act to a Marian evangelist, teenagers leaving home, or girls escaping marriage, rape, death, self-harm, or the life of a nun. Herrad intently and imaginatively explores the interface between the physical, sexual, spiritual and mystical, in ancient and modern worlds. Her saints, often in flight from persecution, closely inhabit the world of nature. And her retellings often reclaim women seen as victims and martyrs, as strong survivors - as indicated by their status as saints. Her contemporary interpretations are hugely inventive. Some follow the original legends, as with Madrun, the daughter of King Gwyrtheryn, who apparently invited the Saxons into Britain to the Picts. This transmutes into a story of escape from an eastern European war zone. Others stories are more free: St Non was raped in legend and expelled form her convent for 'sexual incontinence'. She later founded convents, but in Herrad's version the 'victim' extracts a physical rather than spiritual revenge.
Check nearby libraries
Buy this book
Previews available in: English
Subjects
Celtic, saint, woman saint, legeds, myth, Llanddwyn, Women saints, Fiction, Fiction, christian, collections & anthologiesPeople
Eurgein, Indeg, Melangell, Non, Arganhell, Dwynwen, Collen, Govan, Winifried, Gwenfrewi, Madryn, Annon, Anhwn, Tudfyl, TudfulPlaces
Merthyr Tydful, St Davids, Holywell, St Govans, LlangollenTimes
Age of Saints, Dark Ages, Middle AgesShowing 2 featured editions. View all 2 editions?
Edition | Availability |
---|---|
1
Woman Who Loved an Octopus: And Other Saints' Tales
2007, Seren Books
in English
1781723613 9781781723616
|
zzzz
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
2
The Woman Who Loved an Octopus: And Other Saints' Tales
October 1, 2007, Seren
Paperback
in English
1854114425 9781854114426
|
aaaa
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
Book Details
Classifications
The Physical Object
ID Numbers
Community Reviews (0)
Feedback?History
- Created April 30, 2008
- 11 revisions
Wikipedia citation
×CloseCopy and paste this code into your Wikipedia page. Need help?
December 30, 2022 | Edited by MARC Bot | import existing book |
December 9, 2022 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
October 4, 2021 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
May 10, 2021 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
April 30, 2008 | Created by an anonymous user | Imported from amazon.com record |