Chapter XXX: Section IV: Fairy Stories--Modern Fantastic Tales (6)

John Ruskin (1819-1900), the most eloquent of
English prose writers, was much interested in
the question of literature for both grown-ups
and children. He edited a reissue of Taylor's
translation of Grimms' _Popular Stories_,
issued "Dame Wiggins of Lee and Her Seven
Wonderful Cats" (see No. 143), and wrote that
masterpiece among modern stories for children,
_The King of the Golden River_. Its fine
idealism, splendidly imagined structure,
wonderful word-paintings, and perfect English
all combine to justify the high place assigned
to it. Ruskin wrote the story in 1841, at a
"couple of sittings," though it was not
published until ten years later. Speaking of it
later in life, he said that it "was written to
amuse a little girl; and being a fairly good
imitation of Grimm and Dickens, mixed with a
little true Alpine feeling of my own, it has
been rightly pleasing to nice children, and
good for them. But it is totally valueless, for
all that. I can no more write a story than
compose a picture." The final statement may be
taken for what it is worth, written as it was
at a time of disillusionment. The first part of
Ruskin's analysis is certainly true and has
been thus expanded by his biographer, Sir E. T.
Cook: "The grotesque and the German setting of
the tale were taken from Grimm; from Dickens it
took its tone of pervading kindliness and
geniality. The Alpine ecstasy and the eager
pressing of the moral were Ruskin's own; and so
also is the style, delicately poised between
poetry and comedy."

THE KING OF THE GOLDEN RIVER OR THE BLACK BROTHERS

JOHN RUSKIN