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Duffy and the Devil
Duffy and the Devil was a popular play in Cornwall in the nineteenth century, performed at the Christmas season by groups of young people who went from house to house. The Zemachs have interpreted the folk tale which the play dramatized, recognizable as a version of the widespread Rumpelstiltskin story. Its main themes are familiar, but the character and details of this picture book are entirely Cornish, as robust and distinctive as the higgledy-piggledy, cliff-hanging villages that dot England's southwestern coast from Penzance to Land's End.
The language spoken by the Christmas players was a rich mixture of local English dialect and Old Cornish (similar to Welsh and Gaelic), and something of this flavor is preserved in Harve Zemach's retelling. Margot Zemach's pen-and-wash illustrations combine a refined sense of comedy with telling observation of character, felicitous drawing with decorative richness, to a degree that surpasses her own past accomplishments.
Duffy and the Devil is a 1973 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year, a 1974 National Book Award Finalist for Children's Books, and the winner of the 1974 Caldecott Medal.
The language spoken by the Christmas players was a rich mixture of local English dialect and Old Cornish (similar to Welsh and Gaelic), and something of this flavor is preserved in Harve Zemach's retelling. Margot Zemach's pen-and-wash illustrations combine a refined sense of comedy with telling observation of character, felicitous drawing with decorative richness, to a degree that surpasses her own past accomplishments.
Duffy and the Devil is a 1973 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year, a 1974 National Book Award Finalist for Children's Books, and the winner of the 1974 Caldecott Medal.
40 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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January 23, 2019
This is a Cornish tale very similar to Rumpelstiltskin. A single man lives with his cook, but her eyes are bad and she is no longer able to knit and mend his clothes. He sees a poor mother and daughter fighting and he invites the daughter to come do his mending. She agrees saying she can knit and spin.
She gets to the house and she can’t do any of those things. In walks this devil and offers to spin and knit for 3 years if she will go with him at the end of it unless she can guess his name. The deal is struck.
His name isn’t as unusual as Rumpelstiltskin. It sounds rather normal. During the 3 years the girl and the man decide to marry. The ending is amusing.
The story is longer than the kids are used to and the artwork has a sloppy quality to it. The kids weren’t crazy about this story. The niece gave it 2 stars while the nephew gave it 3 stars. It’s not their favorite story and they didn’t hate it either. I think Rumpelstiltskin is better.
She gets to the house and she can’t do any of those things. In walks this devil and offers to spin and knit for 3 years if she will go with him at the end of it unless she can guess his name. The deal is struck.
His name isn’t as unusual as Rumpelstiltskin. It sounds rather normal. During the 3 years the girl and the man decide to marry. The ending is amusing.
The story is longer than the kids are used to and the artwork has a sloppy quality to it. The kids weren’t crazy about this story. The niece gave it 2 stars while the nephew gave it 3 stars. It’s not their favorite story and they didn’t hate it either. I think Rumpelstiltskin is better.
July 12, 2024
A very humorous Cornish version of the Rumpelstiltskin tale. The skillful watercolors burst with vitality and humor.
February 14, 2017
Source: Goodreads Rumplestiltskin shelves
Duffy and the Devil is a Cornish version of Rumpelstiltskin. A young girl, Duffy, tells Squire Lovel that she “spins like a saint” and “knits like an angel.” Squire Lovel’s current housekeeper is no longer able to knit well, so he brings Duffy home with him in hopes that she will help his housekeeper with the knitting. Duffy does not really know how to knit and makes a deal with the devil to have him do all of her spinning for three years. If she is unable to tell him his name by the end of the three years, he will take her away.
I enjoyed this story, as it is a recognizable version of Rumpelstilskin; however, there are many differences in this version which makes it unique. It aligns with the traditional English tales that are often about “simple folk” who are able to overcome hardships. This story is well written, with touches of humor. The characters are strong and the sequence of events is descriptive and easy to follow. The language is memorable—there is descriptive language, as well as interesting words and phrases like “confloption” and “oogly little squinny-eyed creature.” This book won the Caldecott Award and contains detailed, pastel-colored pictures that help to tell the story using both single and double page spreads.
Since this version of Rumpelstiltskin varies from other versions, this would be excellent to use to compare and contrast to the original version. It would also lend itself to analyzing and comparing characters.
Duffy and the Devil is a Cornish version of Rumpelstiltskin. A young girl, Duffy, tells Squire Lovel that she “spins like a saint” and “knits like an angel.” Squire Lovel’s current housekeeper is no longer able to knit well, so he brings Duffy home with him in hopes that she will help his housekeeper with the knitting. Duffy does not really know how to knit and makes a deal with the devil to have him do all of her spinning for three years. If she is unable to tell him his name by the end of the three years, he will take her away.
I enjoyed this story, as it is a recognizable version of Rumpelstilskin; however, there are many differences in this version which makes it unique. It aligns with the traditional English tales that are often about “simple folk” who are able to overcome hardships. This story is well written, with touches of humor. The characters are strong and the sequence of events is descriptive and easy to follow. The language is memorable—there is descriptive language, as well as interesting words and phrases like “confloption” and “oogly little squinny-eyed creature.” This book won the Caldecott Award and contains detailed, pastel-colored pictures that help to tell the story using both single and double page spreads.
Since this version of Rumpelstiltskin varies from other versions, this would be excellent to use to compare and contrast to the original version. It would also lend itself to analyzing and comparing characters.
January 6, 2018
This was interesting, but not quite my style.
This is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling featuring a lazy woman named Duffy who has lied and said she knows how to do spinning and sewing and so on. A devil makes a deal with her to do all these chores for her, but, if she doesn't guess his name than he gets to take her away in three years.
If you enjoyed Rumpelstiltskin, then you may enjoy this as well. Unfortunately I just wasn't wild about the illustration style which is a matter of personal taste.
This is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling featuring a lazy woman named Duffy who has lied and said she knows how to do spinning and sewing and so on. A devil makes a deal with her to do all these chores for her, but, if she doesn't guess his name than he gets to take her away in three years.
If you enjoyed Rumpelstiltskin, then you may enjoy this as well. Unfortunately I just wasn't wild about the illustration style which is a matter of personal taste.
June 29, 2008
This must be the Cornish version of Rumplestiltskin. At first glance, I didn't really care for the illustrations, but they do have some fun details. I did love the words used in the story, though. Too fun! Some of my favorites: confloption, gashly, oogly, squinny-eyed, whillygogs and whizamagees.
October 9, 2015
This was a new version for me of the Rumplestiltskin story. More narrative and more complicated language so I think older children (8-9 year olds) would enjoy this version. Illustrations are wonderful and done by Margot Zemach.
November 28, 2025
Caldecott winner for 1973. The competition must not have been too good since the pictures here are sketchy/average. The story is too long - way too many words to keep a kid's attention. And the non-married older man taking a wife simply because she can cook/sew is very misogynistic.
Even the skills of the girl were only gained by a deal with a devil, where in three years she would be asked the devil's name. If not known, then the girl would go with the devil.
Maybe in 1973 this was OK, but I don't recommend this book now that a half-century of awakening has come to pass.
2*
Even the skills of the girl were only gained by a deal with a devil, where in three years she would be asked the devil's name. If not known, then the girl would go with the devil.
Maybe in 1973 this was OK, but I don't recommend this book now that a half-century of awakening has come to pass.
2*
February 9, 2019
This book was an absolute trip from beginning to end!
June 4, 2022
1974 Caldecott Award Winner. Cornish Folk Tale similar to the tale of Rumplestiltskin. Duffy makes a deal with the devil, who after three years will take her away unless she can tell him his name.
December 17, 2023
Duffy and the Devil is the 1974 Caldecott Award winner. It's a Cornish retelling of the Rumplestilskin story aand I liked it but the illustrations were not that great.
January 26, 2014
My first impression of the book came from just the title, which is also what enticed me to read the story. Why is there a children’s book with the devil as a character? How did a book with a devil character win a children's literature award?
I found after reading the story that having the devil as a character was not as bad as I thought. He is not scary, but of course acts mischievously. The audience recognizes his naughty nature as we find a girl's deal with the devil can only be broken by winning his guessing game.
This story could be a good way to introduce children to the "make a deal with the devil" motif often found in literature, songs, or every day humor. It also may introduce the "guessing game" element found in other stories, such as those with events that require an answer before crossing a bridge or opening a door. In addition, I believe kids would find the falling action humorous in the book. Who would not laugh at the thought of a grown man instantaneously losing his clothes in public?
It is known that the book takes place a long time ago because procuring clothes requires spinning wool and knitting the clothing. The design elements of the book definitely match the old-time feel. The font is the classic Times New Roman, and the pictures do not have any harsh or bright colors. Both of these elements point to a setting in the past. I enjoyed how the text location is varied throughout the book as well. On some pages the text is on the top, some it is on the bottom, and sometimes there is only one paragraph of text for two pages. This variation made the pages interesting to look through.
The pictures are the most notable part of the story. The drawings are very unique and bubbly. It is more cartoon-like than depictions of real life people. Perhaps the best about it is I cannot recall a single book that I have read that has similar illustrations. The unique drawings make the book stand out.
In the end, I just could not warm up to this book. Perhaps it is the devil character that I am still unsure about. Perhaps I held it to too high of expectations because it is award-winning instead of going into the reading experience in a neutral mood. Though there is nothing inherently wrong with it, I probably would not buy it for my own children to read. To me, there is just nothing extraordinary or imaginative about it that places it in the same category as some of my favorite books like The Polar Express and Where the Wild Things Are.
I found after reading the story that having the devil as a character was not as bad as I thought. He is not scary, but of course acts mischievously. The audience recognizes his naughty nature as we find a girl's deal with the devil can only be broken by winning his guessing game.
This story could be a good way to introduce children to the "make a deal with the devil" motif often found in literature, songs, or every day humor. It also may introduce the "guessing game" element found in other stories, such as those with events that require an answer before crossing a bridge or opening a door. In addition, I believe kids would find the falling action humorous in the book. Who would not laugh at the thought of a grown man instantaneously losing his clothes in public?
It is known that the book takes place a long time ago because procuring clothes requires spinning wool and knitting the clothing. The design elements of the book definitely match the old-time feel. The font is the classic Times New Roman, and the pictures do not have any harsh or bright colors. Both of these elements point to a setting in the past. I enjoyed how the text location is varied throughout the book as well. On some pages the text is on the top, some it is on the bottom, and sometimes there is only one paragraph of text for two pages. This variation made the pages interesting to look through.
The pictures are the most notable part of the story. The drawings are very unique and bubbly. It is more cartoon-like than depictions of real life people. Perhaps the best about it is I cannot recall a single book that I have read that has similar illustrations. The unique drawings make the book stand out.
In the end, I just could not warm up to this book. Perhaps it is the devil character that I am still unsure about. Perhaps I held it to too high of expectations because it is award-winning instead of going into the reading experience in a neutral mood. Though there is nothing inherently wrong with it, I probably would not buy it for my own children to read. To me, there is just nothing extraordinary or imaginative about it that places it in the same category as some of my favorite books like The Polar Express and Where the Wild Things Are.
January 23, 2018
Duffy is a woman hated by her current mistress, but the Squire Lovel of Trove is in need of a helper for his housekeeper Old Jone who cannot see very well. The Squire takes Duffy back to his house and she begins her work first at the sewing machine to make him new pair of stockings. She can’t figure out how to spin thread and becomes so frustrated that she cries “The devil can make Squire Lovel’s stockings for all I care!” And a little horned creature appears! He agrees to do all of Duffy’s sewing and knitting for her for three years, but if at the end of the three years she cannot tell him his name, he will take her away. Duffy agrees and lives her happy new life with wonderful yarn creations. She ends up marrying Squire Lovel, but their joyful marriage is in jeopardy when at the end of three years Duffy still does not know the little devil’s name.
My initial impression of the book is that it is a clever creation that leads the audience all the way until the end when the devil’s name is revealed. My only suggestion would be to change the name of the creature to be something more clever.
One literary element is the continued alliteration of the names of the characters. It adds a light hearted and humorous tone to the story. Another literary element is the rhyming of the devil’s name to the song at the end. It’s catchy and provides young readers with something to interact with and sing if they want to.
A design element is the wide variety of colors that creates a very busy story with lots of things for young minds to find interesting and funny. Another design element is how the pictures aren’t clearly lined or filled in, which adds to the business of the story and the amount of things that can grab the attention of the reader.
I believe this book was interesting and funny, and I also am not entirely convinced as to why it received an award. It certainly is detailed and creative, but I would have expected more for an award-winning story. It was still a good read!
My initial impression of the book is that it is a clever creation that leads the audience all the way until the end when the devil’s name is revealed. My only suggestion would be to change the name of the creature to be something more clever.
One literary element is the continued alliteration of the names of the characters. It adds a light hearted and humorous tone to the story. Another literary element is the rhyming of the devil’s name to the song at the end. It’s catchy and provides young readers with something to interact with and sing if they want to.
A design element is the wide variety of colors that creates a very busy story with lots of things for young minds to find interesting and funny. Another design element is how the pictures aren’t clearly lined or filled in, which adds to the business of the story and the amount of things that can grab the attention of the reader.
I believe this book was interesting and funny, and I also am not entirely convinced as to why it received an award. It certainly is detailed and creative, but I would have expected more for an award-winning story. It was still a good read!
November 6, 2011
“Duffy and the Devil” by Harve & Margot Zemach is based on the Rumpelstiltskin story where the character in the story named Duffy agreed to knit clothes and make wonderful pieces for the Squire Lovel to wear. The only problem was that Duffy didn’t know how to sew or knit. This devil character appears and states that he would create all the clothes for Squire Lovel to wear if only Duffy could guess his name in three years time. If she didn’t get his name right then he would take her away. Three years passed and Duffy was still taking all the credit to making Squire Lovel’s clothes. Duffy eventually married Squire Lovel’s but once the three years was up the devil returned. Duffy found out what the devil’s name through Squire Lovel after experiencing a frightful day hunting in the woods. He saw the devil and his witch friends that ending up scaring him away. Luckily he heard the devil’s name from the song he was singing and told Duffy when she asked. She confronted the devil the next day and he vanished into ash. Not only did the Devil vanished but also all the clothes that the devil made for her. Squire Lovel was left with no clothes and Duffy declared that she would never ever knit or spin material again.
I thought this book would be a nice lesson to show kids that they are the only ones who can be accountable for their actions. They should learn to take responsibility for themselves and know that people can’t always do things for them. I also think it’s a funny book. Kids will love the silliness of the devil and the pictures that go along with the story. It is an older book but it is also a Caldecott winner which I thought were interesting. I would have to do more research on the artwork on the book but I’m not drawn to this type of artwork in it and it doesn’t fascinate me as much. Overall though, I thought it was a lovely book and kids would enjoy it.
I thought this book would be a nice lesson to show kids that they are the only ones who can be accountable for their actions. They should learn to take responsibility for themselves and know that people can’t always do things for them. I also think it’s a funny book. Kids will love the silliness of the devil and the pictures that go along with the story. It is an older book but it is also a Caldecott winner which I thought were interesting. I would have to do more research on the artwork on the book but I’m not drawn to this type of artwork in it and it doesn’t fascinate me as much. Overall though, I thought it was a lovely book and kids would enjoy it.
November 17, 2012
Grade/interest level: Upper elementary (4th-5th grade)
Reading level: Lexile Level 860L
Genre: Picture book, Multicultural (old Cornish foltale), Fantasy
Main Characters: The Squire, Duffy, Old Jone, Tarraway the devil
Setting: The rural countryside of old time Cornwall
POV: 3rd person narrating
The story begins with the squire looking for an assistant to help his old housekeeper with the spinning and knitting. He comes upon an argument between Duffy and her employer because she said that Duffy doesn't do any work. Duffy convinces the Squire that she can do the work for him and he gives her a chance. Duffy begins to work on some stockings but cannot figure out how to work the machine because she'd never done it before. She finally gives up but then a little devil comes out and offers to make whatever she needs but at the end of three years she has to figure out his name or he will take her away. Duffy takes advantage of this situation and eventually marries the Squire. Her three years pass quickly and she still doesn't know the devil's name. Old Jone the housekeeper is a witch who decides to help Duffy out by getting the devil drunk so he will tell his name. The squire falls into a hole in the woods where the witches gather and sees the devil there and finds out his name. He tels it to Duffy and she tells it to the devil and all of the fine things he made turn to ash. Duffy proclaims she is so upset that she will never knit again.
I would use this book as an example of foltales. We would read this together as a read aloud and then I would ask students to retell some of the stories they've heard. Students might see their story told by another student but retold in a different way depending on maybe where they are from.
Reading level: Lexile Level 860L
Genre: Picture book, Multicultural (old Cornish foltale), Fantasy
Main Characters: The Squire, Duffy, Old Jone, Tarraway the devil
Setting: The rural countryside of old time Cornwall
POV: 3rd person narrating
The story begins with the squire looking for an assistant to help his old housekeeper with the spinning and knitting. He comes upon an argument between Duffy and her employer because she said that Duffy doesn't do any work. Duffy convinces the Squire that she can do the work for him and he gives her a chance. Duffy begins to work on some stockings but cannot figure out how to work the machine because she'd never done it before. She finally gives up but then a little devil comes out and offers to make whatever she needs but at the end of three years she has to figure out his name or he will take her away. Duffy takes advantage of this situation and eventually marries the Squire. Her three years pass quickly and she still doesn't know the devil's name. Old Jone the housekeeper is a witch who decides to help Duffy out by getting the devil drunk so he will tell his name. The squire falls into a hole in the woods where the witches gather and sees the devil there and finds out his name. He tels it to Duffy and she tells it to the devil and all of the fine things he made turn to ash. Duffy proclaims she is so upset that she will never knit again.
I would use this book as an example of foltales. We would read this together as a read aloud and then I would ask students to retell some of the stories they've heard. Students might see their story told by another student but retold in a different way depending on maybe where they are from.
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October 26, 2016Brief Review:
This fairy tale was the winner of the 1974 Caldecott award. I thought this book was alright, the illustrations in the book were pretty decent, but in my opinion they weren't Caldecott worthy. The story is just a different version of the story of Rumplestiltskin, so to anyone that knows that story the plot was quite predictable. However, the story is still enjoyable and a fun read. I do think children will enjoy the humorous ending.
Content areas:
This book would be a good book to use in an English lesson, it is a good way to show students how fairytales that have been around for hundreds of years, can still be translated into different stories. This book would also be a good book to use during a 'Hear/think/wonder' activity, or something similar. You could also use this book to inspire a writing assignment, and have children re-invent their own fairy tale.
Comprehension question:
1: Why didn't Duffy like it when others watched her spin or sew?
Answer: She didn't know how to spin or sew. So she would tell others that she hated when they watched her, when in all reality she didn't understand how to do those things.
2: How did Duffy get out of never having to sew again for the rest of her life?
Answer: After the Devil left, all his works turned to ashes. Since everyone believed the work was Duffy's, she acted as if she was upset about the clothes and vowed to never sew again.
Wonders:
1: How did the Squire get clothes if Duffy or the Devil wouldn't be able to sew them?
2: Were the witches the other prisoners that were not able to guess the Devil's name in time?
This fairy tale was the winner of the 1974 Caldecott award. I thought this book was alright, the illustrations in the book were pretty decent, but in my opinion they weren't Caldecott worthy. The story is just a different version of the story of Rumplestiltskin, so to anyone that knows that story the plot was quite predictable. However, the story is still enjoyable and a fun read. I do think children will enjoy the humorous ending.
Content areas:
This book would be a good book to use in an English lesson, it is a good way to show students how fairytales that have been around for hundreds of years, can still be translated into different stories. This book would also be a good book to use during a 'Hear/think/wonder' activity, or something similar. You could also use this book to inspire a writing assignment, and have children re-invent their own fairy tale.
Comprehension question:
1: Why didn't Duffy like it when others watched her spin or sew?
Answer: She didn't know how to spin or sew. So she would tell others that she hated when they watched her, when in all reality she didn't understand how to do those things.
2: How did Duffy get out of never having to sew again for the rest of her life?
Answer: After the Devil left, all his works turned to ashes. Since everyone believed the work was Duffy's, she acted as if she was upset about the clothes and vowed to never sew again.
Wonders:
1: How did the Squire get clothes if Duffy or the Devil wouldn't be able to sew them?
2: Were the witches the other prisoners that were not able to guess the Devil's name in time?
September 12, 2013
Choice #1 Duffy and the Devil: A Cornish tale retold by Harve Zemach
Caldecott Award Winner: 1974
This story is about a woman, Duffy, who was asked to be somewhat of a maid for a squire. When she admits to herself that she was unable to do some of the work that the squire has requested, such as knitting and spinning, a devil appears offering to completely assist with work, in exchange for an agreement. However, the agreement is one that leads to high stakes for Duffy. Duffy soon enough deals with the consequences.
I found it a bit difficult to come up with a way to incorporate this book with a lesson. One way to incorporate it could be to read it during a civics lesson in Social Studies. Students could learn about honesty, trustworthiness (who to and who not to trust), and making deals that may not be the greatest choices.
I somewhat liked the storyline, however I do believe it’s a little advanced for a children’s book, as it refers to devils and kegs of beer. I think a lot of this has to do with the year it was published, as it was a few decades ago. I think a similar story written in today’s time could have the same type of storyline with different characters that are more child-friendly.
The illustrations were interesting to me as they appeared to be painted. They gave off an older image, which went along well with the storyline of a squire. The illustrator does an effective job of creating the devil, as he appears to be very manipulative through his facial expressions.
Caldecott Award Winner: 1974
This story is about a woman, Duffy, who was asked to be somewhat of a maid for a squire. When she admits to herself that she was unable to do some of the work that the squire has requested, such as knitting and spinning, a devil appears offering to completely assist with work, in exchange for an agreement. However, the agreement is one that leads to high stakes for Duffy. Duffy soon enough deals with the consequences.
I found it a bit difficult to come up with a way to incorporate this book with a lesson. One way to incorporate it could be to read it during a civics lesson in Social Studies. Students could learn about honesty, trustworthiness (who to and who not to trust), and making deals that may not be the greatest choices.
I somewhat liked the storyline, however I do believe it’s a little advanced for a children’s book, as it refers to devils and kegs of beer. I think a lot of this has to do with the year it was published, as it was a few decades ago. I think a similar story written in today’s time could have the same type of storyline with different characters that are more child-friendly.
The illustrations were interesting to me as they appeared to be painted. They gave off an older image, which went along well with the storyline of a squire. The illustrator does an effective job of creating the devil, as he appears to be very manipulative through his facial expressions.
November 3, 2017
This children's book follows Duffy, a woman who quite frankly is lazy. One day she makes a deal with the devil that he will do her work for 3 years and after that time is up, she must go home with him forever unless she can tell the devil his name. In a panic Duffy must find the devils name so she can stay with her husband. As she always seems to do, she gets others to find the information for her in attempt to save herself from the devil. I personally didn't like this book. While I know that all books don't have to have a meaning or message behind them, I felt that this one somewhat did and it wasn't a good message. I personally felt that the book basically told the reader that if you are lazy and make other people do your work, you can get away with doing nothing and still reap the benefits. Duffy never did anything but rather had people do things for her. When it got to the part in the book where she needed to fix her mistake, she didn't even do that. She sat at home while her husband did the work for her. In the end, she is basically rewarded for being lazy. Personally I would rather have my students and own children read a book about someone who works hard and reaps some kind of benefit in the end. Then there was the artwork. I personally wasn't a fan of the art work either. While the colors were nice I felt that the illustrations were hard to concentrate on and were almost too over the top in the sense there was so much put into a small amount of space. While you are more than welcome to read this book to your class or kids, I just personally wouldn't.
April 23, 2018
This Cornish fable is the well recognized and often repeated story of rumpelstiltskin, whom offers to do Duffy's spinning and knitting for her in exchange for a devilish deal. Duffy will be in great debt to the devil unless she can guess his name, she must outsmart him to keep her happy life and her secrets. The story begins with a lie told by Duffy and evolves into the mess that lie creates, showing that the theme is to be truthful and provide children with a lesson in why lying is bad even if things did work out for Duffy in the end. The plot of Duffy and the Devil is easy to follow as it is already so well known, Duffy tells a lie, lives happily for a while until the devil asked her to fulfill her part of the deal, and finally Duffy out witty's the devil and lives happily ever after. The mood of the story is always upbeat, I feel that both the language and humor used as well as the illustrations is what kept the story from feeling too serious or heavy. The books illustrations were all well sized and very detailed, done in quaint watercolor with lots of colors and the appearance of texture. I felt that the illustrations did a wonderful job of clearing up any misunderstandings or confusion created by the text and filled the book with humor and movement. I really enjoyed reading Duffy’s story, I’ve always loved fables and fairy tales and being already familiar with the tale of rumpelstiltskin I was very intrigued by this Cornish variation. I think children of any age will connect with this story as it is fun, fast paced, and humorous both in the text and illustrations.
September 6, 2014
Duffy and the Devil
By: Harve Zemach
Illustrations By: Margot Zemach
Duffy and the Devil is an interesting twist on the classic story of Rumpelstiltskin. An, evidently, lazy woman is conned into making a deal with the devil for immediate gratification. She quickly finds that although the devil was helpful, his intentions were of malice. As you flip through the pages the interesting illustrations depict very busy pictures with many blotches of mute colors. The illustrator used, what looks like, watercolors to paint the scenes in a famed setting. The reader looks into the story and finds that most of the characters have their faces covered or facing down. The way the Zemachs share the scenes with the reader make it evident that the reader is intended to look into the story rather than be a part of it. The way the characters are positioned form an invisible wall between the characters and the reader. The faces of the characters are never looking out from the book. Within the confined frames, there are often times scenes of chaos. I found it difficult to find where one character started and the other ended. This made the reader linger on the pictures to make sense of the scenes. The illustrator ends the story with a small illustration showing a table that is disheveled most likely from the celebration that took place at the end of the story! Illustrator and author wrapped up the story with imagination and creativity.
By: Harve Zemach
Illustrations By: Margot Zemach
Duffy and the Devil is an interesting twist on the classic story of Rumpelstiltskin. An, evidently, lazy woman is conned into making a deal with the devil for immediate gratification. She quickly finds that although the devil was helpful, his intentions were of malice. As you flip through the pages the interesting illustrations depict very busy pictures with many blotches of mute colors. The illustrator used, what looks like, watercolors to paint the scenes in a famed setting. The reader looks into the story and finds that most of the characters have their faces covered or facing down. The way the Zemachs share the scenes with the reader make it evident that the reader is intended to look into the story rather than be a part of it. The way the characters are positioned form an invisible wall between the characters and the reader. The faces of the characters are never looking out from the book. Within the confined frames, there are often times scenes of chaos. I found it difficult to find where one character started and the other ended. This made the reader linger on the pictures to make sense of the scenes. The illustrator ends the story with a small illustration showing a table that is disheveled most likely from the celebration that took place at the end of the story! Illustrator and author wrapped up the story with imagination and creativity.
September 10, 2015
Duffy and the Devil by Harve Zemach and with illustrations by Margot Zemach is a wonderful children's book. It is about a girl who finds herself in quite a pickle and makes a deal with the devil. It makes her life very easy and she is quite pleased with herself, but in the end is it all worth it? I won't give it away, but you should read it to find out!
This book is a Caldecott Award winner, which is much deserved for it's time. While it may not compare to the technology enhanced images that we have today, I believe the artist did a wonderful job portraying the images. I believe this book has surrealism in the sense that it has witches and devils in it, but the settings that the story take place in, such as the house, show realism. The artist uses impressionistic art in this story by using lighting to enhance the different times in the book. For example, the sky is dark with blue's and grey's whereas the background is much lighter inside the house. Analyzing the images further, you may notice that the devil is wearing red throughout the book which shows his power over Duffy. He is also somewhat triangle shaped, which shows tension, action and conflict. This is a very accurate way to portray the devil by the artist. Overall, I think this is a high-quality picture book for children and teaches a good lesson about why you should do your own work instead of taking the easy route!
This book is a Caldecott Award winner, which is much deserved for it's time. While it may not compare to the technology enhanced images that we have today, I believe the artist did a wonderful job portraying the images. I believe this book has surrealism in the sense that it has witches and devils in it, but the settings that the story take place in, such as the house, show realism. The artist uses impressionistic art in this story by using lighting to enhance the different times in the book. For example, the sky is dark with blue's and grey's whereas the background is much lighter inside the house. Analyzing the images further, you may notice that the devil is wearing red throughout the book which shows his power over Duffy. He is also somewhat triangle shaped, which shows tension, action and conflict. This is a very accurate way to portray the devil by the artist. Overall, I think this is a high-quality picture book for children and teaches a good lesson about why you should do your own work instead of taking the easy route!
October 9, 2010
This book is a Cornish retelling of the popular Rumpelstiltskin story. It is about a girl (Duffy)who goes to live with Squire Lovel of Trove because she claims that she was knit, work and spin like an angel. Of course after she gets there she cannot do any of these things and starts to panic. This is where the devil walks in and offers to do it for her for 3 years. After 3 years she is to tell him his name or else he will take her away. The rest of the story follows Rumpelstikskin mostly with a few differences. Duffy ends of marrying the Squire then as the 3 years approach ends up confessing to him. Coincidentally the Squire is on a hunting trip when he stumbles upon a group of witches dancing and singing and a little devil singing a song about his name. Well, i think you can figure out the rest for yourself only at the end when she guesses his name correctly, everything he ever knitted, spun etc. for Duffy disappears into ashes. This leads to a naked man covered by only his tophat at the end. I thought that this story was sort of interesting but I still enjoy the classic Rumpelstiltskin better. Also I wonder how many schools would be OK with a book about devils and witches.
One other thingI forgot...this was a Caldecott winner but I was not a fond of the illustrations. They almost had too much detail in them and it felt like the pages were very crowded.
One other thingI forgot...this was a Caldecott winner but I was not a fond of the illustrations. They almost had too much detail in them and it felt like the pages were very crowded.
June 15, 2016
This story is based off a Cornish (the Southwestern coast of England) folktale, but it is also a variation of Rumpelstiltskin. I will admit that though I have read tons of fairy and folk tales over the years, I have never heard this version before. It was an interesting story, though a bit long-winded. This book won the 1974 Caldecott Medal.
Squire Lovel is in search of a maid to do the knitting and sewing when he runs into Duffy and her mother having an argument. He decides to take Duffy home after she swears she can knit and sew well, only she can’t, which we discover once she heads up to the attic. That’s when the devil shows up. He spins some magnificent stockings for Duffy to give to the Squire, but she must guess his name within three years or he can take her away. The Squire and everyone in town is so impressed with his stockings that he demands more things to be knitted. Duffy agrees to the devil’s plan, and he starts right away making garments for the Squire. He likes her garments so much that they get married and it around this time that her three years are up and she still hasn’t guessed his name. So she gets a bit of help from Old Jone, the Squire’s elderly housekeeper, who also turns out to be a witch. She guesses his name correctly and lives happily every after with the Squire. Recommended for ages 8-12, 3 ½ stars.
Squire Lovel is in search of a maid to do the knitting and sewing when he runs into Duffy and her mother having an argument. He decides to take Duffy home after she swears she can knit and sew well, only she can’t, which we discover once she heads up to the attic. That’s when the devil shows up. He spins some magnificent stockings for Duffy to give to the Squire, but she must guess his name within three years or he can take her away. The Squire and everyone in town is so impressed with his stockings that he demands more things to be knitted. Duffy agrees to the devil’s plan, and he starts right away making garments for the Squire. He likes her garments so much that they get married and it around this time that her three years are up and she still hasn’t guessed his name. So she gets a bit of help from Old Jone, the Squire’s elderly housekeeper, who also turns out to be a witch. She guesses his name correctly and lives happily every after with the Squire. Recommended for ages 8-12, 3 ½ stars.
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September 23, 2014Duffy and the Devil is a story about honesty and taking responsibly for what people expect you to do. Duffy is a young lady who is hired by a man to help his housekeeper with her duties because she is getting old and going blind. When she realizes she is not cut out for the chores she is assigned she calls upon the devil out of anger. The devil in this book does not represent what most people think the devil is. In this case the devil says I will knit and spin all your assignments, but you have three years to guess my name and if you fail to guess right I can take you away. Duffy thinks nothing of it and agrees to the devils offer until a couple days before three years hits. By this time she is married to the man and is found sobbing by the old housekeeper who is secretly a witch and tells Duffy specific instructions for that night. That night the man is hunting and is guided into the witches cave and is sang a song. When he returned he told Duffy what happened, and the song ended up saying the devils name. The final day came and the devil was surprised that Duffy had guessed correctly but then all of a sudden all his work turned to ash as if it never existed, leaving Duffy to never sew again. The illustrations in this book give it a folk tale vibe, and use colors effectively.
February 6, 2018
This book is almost a spin off from the original tale of “Rumpelstiltskin”. Within this book, the main character Duffy agreed to make clothes for Squire Lovel to wear, although she knew that she had no idea how to sew or knit. This is when the Devil character is introduced, informing Duffy that he would willingly sew and knit all of the clothes for Squire Lovel. This agreement was only in place if Duffy was able to guess the name of the Devil within three years. Years had passed and she was still taking credit for the clothing and the Devil was not happy about it, eventually the Devil vanished as did all of the clothing he had created. The illustrations looked to be created by water colors, and they seemed to be a little messy. The messiness strives from the blending of the water colors. The messiness of the illustrations fit in well with the theme of the book and the overall story of Duffy. The colors used also convey the feelings that Duffy had throughout the text, in addition to the clear facial expressions of each character. I don't think this is a text that I would necessarily want within my classroom, I think it was an interesting read with beautiful pictures but it is not necessarily my favorite read.
April 13, 2018
This is a Cornish version of Rumpelstiltskin-the story about a man who hires a woman named Duffy to knit, spin and sew clothes for him because his current maid, Jone, cannot do it as well as she used to. Little did he know, Duffy had no idea how to do any of those things, so she allowed the Devil to make all of the clothes for her for three years, but if she couldn’t guess his name by that time, she would have to go away with him. Out of desperation, Duffy agreed and gained the reputation of making the greatest clothes in town. Towards the end of those three years, she realized that she needed help figuring out his name. So with the help of Jone and a strong beer, she figured out the Devil’s name and was free of his evil clutches.The illustrations in this story are painted with pastel watercolors and are effortlessly detailed as well. This story could be used when talking about different cultures and renditions on fairy tales. We can compare and contrast this to the original Rumpelstiltskin.
September 23, 2018
I remember reading the 1974 Caldecott Winner in Elementary School. I know I really liked it then. I couldn't remember much about it, but again, the cover art brought me back.
I wasn't as big of a fan of this one as some of the other Caldecott Winners.
The book is a Cornish fairytale version which became a play of the same title that traveling players would take house to house during the Christmas season. There is no reference to the holiday or that context in the book at all..
The essential story is Rumplestiltskin, just set in a different time and place. Duffy is a lazy maid who makes a Faustus like deal with a little pointy eared-long-tailed imp or 'Devil' to help her. When the time comes to pay up, an unusual twist on the storyline we THINK we know brings about unexpected and slightly mature (even for juvenile standards) discovery of the Devils' riddle.
The illustrations are very pretty with its characters dressed in late 1700's/early 1800's fashion, and its very well done and researched; the illustrations are also very witty and humorous at times;
I wasn't as big of a fan of this one as some of the other Caldecott Winners.
The book is a Cornish fairytale version which became a play of the same title that traveling players would take house to house during the Christmas season. There is no reference to the holiday or that context in the book at all..
The essential story is Rumplestiltskin, just set in a different time and place. Duffy is a lazy maid who makes a Faustus like deal with a little pointy eared-long-tailed imp or 'Devil' to help her. When the time comes to pay up, an unusual twist on the storyline we THINK we know brings about unexpected and slightly mature (even for juvenile standards) discovery of the Devils' riddle.
The illustrations are very pretty with its characters dressed in late 1700's/early 1800's fashion, and its very well done and researched; the illustrations are also very witty and humorous at times;
October 7, 2017
Summary: Duffy and the Devil is a play that was preformed in Cornwall. It is a Rumpelstiltskin type story line. The lady, Duffy, helps the Devil by making him new socks and clothes. The devil deceits Duffy though and does her wrong.
Evaluation: While this book could teach a good lesson, it would be hard for students to comprehend. The book uses vocabulary that is far too difficult for most children; the words are also used in ways that context clues could not be used to decipher the text. The book was also copyrighted in 1989, so the illustrations are not the best, and I do not think that they would catch children’s eyes.
Teaching idea: I probably would not use this book in my classroom. I may have it in my classroom library, since it is a text from another culture, but I probably would not read it out loud because of the complexity of the book.
Evaluation: While this book could teach a good lesson, it would be hard for students to comprehend. The book uses vocabulary that is far too difficult for most children; the words are also used in ways that context clues could not be used to decipher the text. The book was also copyrighted in 1989, so the illustrations are not the best, and I do not think that they would catch children’s eyes.
Teaching idea: I probably would not use this book in my classroom. I may have it in my classroom library, since it is a text from another culture, but I probably would not read it out loud because of the complexity of the book.
December 2, 2020
A Cornish tale, England's southwestern coast, that is very much like Rumplestiltskin. The story is captivating, the illustrations a bit funny. I don't like it that all the characters look old and fat but it brings humour to the tale. The publishers say that the illustrations are true to Cornish, "robust and distinctive as higgledy-piggledy."
About the story; "Duffy and the Devil was a popular play in Cornwall in the nineteenth century, performed at the Christmas season by groups of young people who went from house to house. The language that was spoken by the Christmas players was a rich mixture of local English dialect and Old Cornish (similar to Welsh and Gaelic)."
About the story; "Duffy and the Devil was a popular play in Cornwall in the nineteenth century, performed at the Christmas season by groups of young people who went from house to house. The language that was spoken by the Christmas players was a rich mixture of local English dialect and Old Cornish (similar to Welsh and Gaelic)."
July 25, 2017
This is an interesting take on a Rumpelstiltskin story. It has many similar aspects. In this version his mane is Tarraway. As a reader, you almost feel sorry for Duffy, even though she continues to pretend to have made the stockings and other articles of clothing when really "the devil" makes them. This would be a great book to discuss honesty. This would be a great addition to a fairy tale unit. Although it has a beer reference and a practically nude Squire at the end.
October 23, 2017
• 1974 Caldecott Winner •
This is a Cornish twist on Rumpelstiltskin. Pretty fun and I like the ending. The watercolor washes are really lovely! I love the New York quote on the back of the book: "Margot Zemach draws like an intoxicated angel." Hahha If that doesn't make a parent pick up this book, I don't know what will.
Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted
This is a Cornish twist on Rumpelstiltskin. Pretty fun and I like the ending. The watercolor washes are really lovely! I love the New York quote on the back of the book: "Margot Zemach draws like an intoxicated angel." Hahha If that doesn't make a parent pick up this book, I don't know what will.
Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted
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