Book Review: Edmund Dulac’s Fairyland

EDMUND DULAC’S FAIRYLAND: ENCHANTED FAIRYLAND LOVERS, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST by Albert Seligman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you enjoyed Albert Seligman’s other collections of The American Weekly illustrations, you’ll want to add this to your library. Edmund Dulac’s Fairyland focuses on the illustrations from April to May 1932 and March to May 1937 issues. The themes for this book are “Enchanting Fairyland Lovers” and “Beauty and the Beast”.

We begin with a familiar story known to so many, “Cinderella and Prince Charming”. The illustration is charming (no joke intended), with a very exotic looking prince and a sweet-faced Cinderella. A tabby cat watches the shoe-fitting fun from behind the leg of the kitchen table. Best of all, I see two evil stepsisters hovering in the doorway, looking absolutely devastated! As a bonus, there’s a page from The American Weekly with an article about “That Curious Error About Cinderella’s Slipper”. I won’t give away the surprise. And as if one bonus page isn’t enough, we get another, showing two of Dulac’s original pencil drawings of the scene, made before the painting was created.

“Prince Ahmed And Peri-Banu” features both bold colors and soft pastels, each in their own place. The accompanying story takes a creepy twist! See what you think of it. Enchanting… or terrifying?

Soft colors in “The Goose Girl” reinforce the idyllic scene of four lovely geese and their pretty but very wicked, maid. A bug-eyed king and a man chasing a hat complete the surreal, odd setting.

Our viewpoint in “Ivan and the Chestnut Horse” has us floating in the sky, near a tower. From our lofty position, we’re privy to a kiss being shared between a princess in the tower and a prince riding by on horseback. Yes, you heard that right. Perhaps the air in this magical village is actually helium. The only thing weirder than a levitating horse is the story’s explanation of how the prince gained his smarts.

“The Prince and the Sleeping Beauty” is the classic tale that nearly everyone knows. Our prince is looking very excited at the prospect of kissing the sleeping princess’s lips. While the color pallet is lovely, I am not as impressed with the character’s awkward poses.

In “Ta-Khai and the Bird Feng” we learn about the power of music to keep love alive. I can’t help but notice how stylized the couple’s hands are. They are very long, thin, and gracefully posed.

The deep, rich colors of the forest and the horse bring “The Princess And The Enchanted Stag” to life. In contrast to the mighty horse, the stag being held gently by the princess is pale, delicate, and vulnerable.

In “The Fisherman and the Dragon King’s Daughter” we have a hauntingly beautiful twist on the Rip Van Winkle story. The illustration shows fisherman Urashima Taro and the princess, the daughter of the dragon king. Both look sad. Behind them, the ocean and bits of land have been created by simple shapes and swirls, in contrast to the precise details of the couple’s kimonos.

The second part of the book turns the focus on “Beauty and the Beast”, from the March to May 1937 issues.

Terrified, wide-eyed maidens watch as Theseus kills the beast that’s been intent on eating them in “Maids of Athens and the Minotaur”. There’s no doubt that Theseus is just about to plunge his sword into the creature. Every muscle in his body is tensed for this deed. A bonus pencil study of the maidens is included, along with a second scan of the final illustration which demonstrates the benefits of higher quality paper and inks.

The relaxed poses and happy expressions in “Nymphs and Satyrs” shows no one in peril. The group of two satyrs and three nymphs looks for all the world like a family gathering at the end of a long day. And while there’s lots of nudity, judicious placement of flower strands and raised arms save the day.

The sister of Lazarus, a fine dragon tamer in her own right, faces down what looks like a Saturday morning cartoon figure in “Saint Martha and the Dragon”. While it’s described as half-beast and half-fish, I just can’t take it seriously. It’s got such a grin and bug-eyed look. Plus, he’s been leashed by Saint Martha with her girdle. I can’t help feeling the artist had some fun creating this illustration.

But the fun and games are over as we witness helpless women struggling in “The Centaurs and the Lapithae Women”. A tangle of bodies, both human and animal seems dire. The expressions on the centaurs faces is intense, and chilling.

We’re given a moment of calm next as “The Maid and the Unicorn” rest in a forest, their expressions gentle and at peace. Little does the unicorn know what’s coming next…

Another cartoonish sea monster grins toothily from the ocean as Rogero rides “The Hippogriff” in to save Angelica from the creature. Everything about this illustration looks extra-animated and highly stylized. It’s full of energy and excitement. And it’s just weird – I’d hang this one on my walls just to hear what visitors have to say about it. It’s quite the conversation starter.

Our last illustration’s title is fitting for a finale. In “Hanuman Bids Sita Farewell”, after rescuing Sita from a demon, Hanuman gives her a wave-salute, as if to say, “My work here is done”.

All in all, I enjoyed learning more about legends that were previously unfamiliar to me. I was surprised by the variety in the illustrations, and spent quite a bit of time lingering over them. Some of those facial expressions will haunt for days to come, I just know it.

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