Rip Van Winkle

by Dorothy Bell Briggs, Anne Sellers Leaf

Classic fairy tale of a young man who falls asleep and wakes up old many years later! Glossy cover.

21 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Melinda Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just like the other Rip Van Winkle books, except it is done in rhyme, which is kind of fun to read and to hear. Rip was a friend of the village girls and boys, but his wife wanted him at home doing repairs on the house. Rip ignored his wife and went to the woods where he met small dwarf-like fellows bowling so loudly it sounded like thunder. He grew tired of that and fell asleep for twenty years. Today, when the children hear thunder, they say that little men are up in the mountains bowling. Where did they hear a story like that?

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would love to read Washington Irving’s text: to know how his story goes and for the 1819 language. The gist of my juvenile adaptation is that instead of helping his wife upkeep their home; Rip stayed away, doing whatever he preferred. He saw elves in a forest, drank from their keg, and entered a coma for 20 years. Upon awakening, he was glad his wife had died but sad that his son was lazy, like himself.

We do not know if 205 year-old stories were written for children, or interpreted by us this way. Would children see past the “sour woman” she was called, or think she was a bitch? As a lady of 50, I see an inconsiderate ass who left everything to his wife and gave her no chance to communicate calmly. He was so inept, he awaited death; instead of asking if she wanted a better husband.

Thinking his audience as inadequate as himself, this adapter left errors galore. “Rip Van Winkle” was asleep; not decayed. His family should find him, or his dog Wolf, should show them. Did no one else see elves? Why not revive Rip? The keg was theirs. It is no fun to employ magic that is unexplained. It is the whys and wherefores that make great storytelling.

I suspect this 1995 version is inferior, which I graded in the author’s name with two stars. I clearly identify: the adapter was Jack Kelly, the editor was Joshua E. Hanft, the publisher was Baronet Books, and the series was Great Illustrated Classics. Avoid this omnibus, which I atttribute to a low quality “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” and “Golden Dreams” too.

I am reviewing the three stories of this omnibus separately. I chose Dorothy Bell Briggs’ book record, solely to isolate this title.