Tags
"Kate had never in her life seen such frightful deformities -and the goblins had never seen such a hideous dress." -Clare B. Dunkle, Labyrinth, Swish smack! Whip crack! Batter and beat! Yammer and bleat! Work work! Nor dare to shirk While Goblins quaff and Goblins laugh Round and round far underground Below my lad!
Sonmi received something rather special from a good friend not long ago, a present in tome form that is really beyond splendid. It is a 1939 copy of the book ‘The Goblin Market’ by Christina Rossetti, illustrated by none other than Arthur Rackham, one of my favourite illustrators! The prints are beautiful, the paper soft and thick, it is a joy from beginning to end.
It is a tale of tricky Goblins and two young sisters – one of whom, Laura, is tempted by the fruit at the Goblin market, and swaps a lock of hair for some, only to find herself physically wasting away afterwards. Her sister Lizzie goes to find the Goblin market herself, and buy some fruit, for the juice of it may save Laura’s life. The Goblins take her penny and then fight with her, trying to force her to eat their wares, but she will not allow them to succeed, and eventually they give up, flinging the penny back at her. She runs home and Laura licks up the fruit juices all over Lizzie (odd I know, but you do what you must in these situations), then goes into convulsions. She will either live or die that night, and a happy ever after is provided as she comes round and the two sisters, having learned a valuable lesson, skip off into the sunset.
I think there’s a lesson for all of us too in the following lines –
‘We must not look at Goblin men,
We must not eat their fruits
Who knows upon what soil they fed
Their hungry thirsty roots.’
nods.
(I like this little chap at the end out of all the small illustrations dotted throughout the book.)
Esme's Cloud 
Oh that IS nifty!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It IS isn’t it?! I love so much of it, all of it in fact, and then some more.
LikeLiked by 2 people
What ever is odd about licking fruit juices off someone?
That aside, one of my favorite things is to smell the pages of a book (not an eBook, mind), to breath the its words. Many a book aren’t worth reading are well worth sniffing. You don’t find that odd, do you?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Depends on the juice mate. looks sideways at him
I love to smell books too, that’s perfectly normal behaviour for any discerning book lover. The very old books smell lovely, and brand new ones can do too. I like to feel the weight and texture of the paper and examine the depth of the printing (in some old tomes the letters have almost been battered into the pages). The smells are varied too. Thankfully no smoke is to be found upon the Cloud, so they have not soaked up any tobacco or ‘herbal’ scents, of which I don’t actually mind the latter, but the former is very unpleasant, and masks the true smell of the book. And yes, a book can smell great and read shite. You’re quite correct.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Interesting, although I’d have to say my favourite part is your pink nailed thumb!
LikeLiked by 3 people
“my favourite part is your pink nailed thumb!” – and I’d expect no less from you! Hahahahaha. Funnily enough, when I was uploading the photographs it crossed my mind that you would find that thumb, creeping in all sneaky-like, something to enjoy grins.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And I even knew it crossed your mind, somehow, that you thought it would cross mine. Crosses all round. Your thumb inclusion along with such deeply red backgrounds gave insight into a more personal sonmi side- I like- I like!
Thumbs up, with a half chopped off pinkie on the side. (actually almost lost it the other day)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like that you like, and should they like that you like, that I like that you like, and like that I like that you like that you like, they (all of them) might like too. (One can only hope eh?) laughs
The red is the ‘Throw of Power’, one of the most powerful weapons for good in the unknown universe. I’m glad you’re keen, but unhappy to hear you nearly lost a small pink thing! Be careful out there.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The book sounds allegorical in a rather saucy way – not that there’s anything saucy about sisterly love. Well, there could be I suppose . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s packed with it to the brim with hidden sauce actually…
I’d never have guessed you Hariod, of all people noticing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous book!! So great to see the pics!! I too love Arthur Rackham,his illustrations are so beautiful and detailed, I could keep looking at them forever. I could be very jealous if I weren’t above such things!! I smell books too, they all have their own spirit don’t they??
LikeLiked by 2 people
They do indeed. That’s another reason (beyond the obvious), why a book should never be burnt. nods. And yes, it’s really quite beautiful, and I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the pictures, they are marvellous illustrations!
You can’t have it though, bugger off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds like an interesting read. A book for all times.
Pleasant week my friend
LikeLiked by 2 people
It has many facets this book. I’d have enjoyed it as a child almost as much as I enjoy it now. Not that I’d let a child within forty feet of it mind you. Grubby things. laughs
A pleasant week to you too mak my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing- your wonderful present! By some pleasant chance I have the 1981 edition with some colored and some black and white illustrations by George Gershinowitz.
Does your copy warn the following: “Goblin Market can be read on many levels and by any age group- as a ballad, a cautionary tale, or as a phantasmagoria of good and evil, pleasure and pain.”???
Sometimes I’m not sure if I found the book, or the book found me!
A great read ~ I am agreed 🙂
LikeLike
Oh you have one too Niried, how lovely – beams. It is one of the best presents I’ve ever received, and I love it to infinitesimal bits. – nods. My copy does not have that warning, (and what a fine one it is by the Gods), but what with it being a 1939 edition, I’m not complaining one jot – laughs.
LikeLike