The Fourth Pig
An enchanting collection that introduces the author and activist Naomi Mitchison to a new generation of readers

The Fourth Pig, originally published in 1936, is a wide-ranging collection of fairy tales, poems, and ballads that reflect the hopes and forebodings of their era but also resonate with those of today. From a retelling of “Hansel and Gretel” to the experimental title story, a dark departure from “The Three Little Pigs,” this book is a testament to the talents of Naomi Mitchison (1897–1999), who was an irrepressible phenomenon—a prominent Scottish political activist as well as a prolific author. Mitchison’s work, exemplified by the tales in this superb new edition, is stamped with her characteristic sharp wit, magical invention, and vivid political and social consciousness. Marina Warner, the celebrated scholar of myths and fairy tales and writer of fiction, provides an insightful introduction to Mitchison as a remarkable writer and personality.

1119269297
The Fourth Pig
An enchanting collection that introduces the author and activist Naomi Mitchison to a new generation of readers

The Fourth Pig, originally published in 1936, is a wide-ranging collection of fairy tales, poems, and ballads that reflect the hopes and forebodings of their era but also resonate with those of today. From a retelling of “Hansel and Gretel” to the experimental title story, a dark departure from “The Three Little Pigs,” this book is a testament to the talents of Naomi Mitchison (1897–1999), who was an irrepressible phenomenon—a prominent Scottish political activist as well as a prolific author. Mitchison’s work, exemplified by the tales in this superb new edition, is stamped with her characteristic sharp wit, magical invention, and vivid political and social consciousness. Marina Warner, the celebrated scholar of myths and fairy tales and writer of fiction, provides an insightful introduction to Mitchison as a remarkable writer and personality.

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Overview

An enchanting collection that introduces the author and activist Naomi Mitchison to a new generation of readers

The Fourth Pig, originally published in 1936, is a wide-ranging collection of fairy tales, poems, and ballads that reflect the hopes and forebodings of their era but also resonate with those of today. From a retelling of “Hansel and Gretel” to the experimental title story, a dark departure from “The Three Little Pigs,” this book is a testament to the talents of Naomi Mitchison (1897–1999), who was an irrepressible phenomenon—a prominent Scottish political activist as well as a prolific author. Mitchison’s work, exemplified by the tales in this superb new edition, is stamped with her characteristic sharp wit, magical invention, and vivid political and social consciousness. Marina Warner, the celebrated scholar of myths and fairy tales and writer of fiction, provides an insightful introduction to Mitchison as a remarkable writer and personality.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780691191447
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication date: 07/09/2019
Series: Oddly Modern Fairy Tales , #1
Edition description: Reprint
Pages: 256
Sales rank: 917,700
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 7.75(h) x (d)

About the Author

Marina Warner is a cultural historian and novelist who has published widely on fairy tales and myths in art, literature, and politics. Her books include From the Beast to the Blonde and Stranger Magic, winner of the 2012 National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism and the Truman Capote Award. She is professor of English and creative writing at Birkbeck, University of London, and president of the Royal Society of Literature.

Table of Contents

Introduction by Marina Warner 1

The Fourth Pig 23

Omen of the Enemy 27

Frogs and Panthers 29

The Furies Dance in New York 49

Grand-daughter 54

The Fancy Pig 61

The Snow Maiden 62

Hansel and Gretel 74

Birmingham and the Allies 90

Soria Moria Castle 93

Kate Crackernuts 115

Adventure in the Debateable Land 180

Mairi MacLean and the Fairy Man 196

The Little Mermaiden 201

Pause in the Corrida 209

Brünnhilde's Journey down the Rhine 213

The Border Loving 221

Mirk, Mirk Night 222

Further Reading 247

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"At her best, Naomi Mitchison is forthright and witty, writes with brio and passion and lucidity, and conveys a huge appetite for life, for people, for new adventures, and for breaking through barriers."—From the introduction by Marina Warner

"These stories are important—both within the literary tradition of the fairy tale, and more broadly, as fantasy stories exemplary in their imagining of real-world matters. Warner's introduction to the collection strikes just the right note. A splendid reissue."—Stephen Benson, University of East Anglia

"The Fourth Pig makes a relevant and interesting addition to the Oddly Modern Fairy Tales series. The collection embraces more than fairy tales in the strictest sense and includes playful references to Greek and Teutonic mythology as well as to Gaelic traditions. The introduction is informative and engaging."—William Gray, director of the Sussex Centre for Folklore, Fairy Tales and Fantasy, University of Chichester

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