The Seventh Door

by Norman Leach, Patricia Ludlow (Illustrator)

What drives an ill-fated King to rob the world of its colour and beauty? Greed and insecurity prevent him from sharing wealth and beauty with others. The King cruelly imprisons each of the seven daughters of a poor family. The first six daughters, who were named after the colour of the forest at the time each was born, go willingly to the castle for their own self-centered reason. Only the youngest agrees to go with the King for selfless reasons - to save her parents from starvation, to save her sisters (if they still live), and to bring colour and beauty back to the world. When she succeeds, by opposing the King's tyranny, he is turned to stone. She and her sisters rule the land with the very balance of passion and virtue which the King feared and which makes them ideal rulers. In the end, the sisters do not hate the King. They feel compassion for him and for those "those like him", who are driven by the fear of sharing their talents with others for the good of all.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1995

Reviews

[Hannah Bardsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all it tries to sell it as a feminist book I have to disagree. Carrots and Cream does indeed save her sisters, but in no great feet of courage. I suppose while her telling the King that she will no longer be his "good girl" can be marked as feminist it is also her denying the rule of a tyrannical king. Having said that it is not sexist either.

That being said read it. It has a classic fairytale story line and some of the most beautiful illustrations.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay objectively this book is probably a 3* standard cautionary tale/princess narrative but also, i have been searching for it for like five years and finally read it again for the first time since childhood today so i'm feeling extremely positive emotions about it.

also, the art is BEAUTIFUL