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Sociedade das Relíquias Literárias #26
Melisandre
Rare book
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1901
About the author
E. Nesbit
1,174 books1,037 followers
Edith Nesbit
(married name Edith Bland; 15 August 1858 – 4 May 1924) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit.
She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later connected to the Labour Party.
Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington, Surrey, the daughter of agricultural chemist and schoolmaster John Collis Nesbit. The death of her father when she was four and the continuing ill health of her sister meant that Nesbit had a transitory childhood, her family moving across Europe in search of healthy climates only to return to England for financial reasons. Nesbit therefore spent her childhood attaining an education from whatever sources were available—local grammars, the occasional boarding school but mainly through reading.
At 17 her family finally settled in London and aged 19, Nesbit met Hubert Bland, a political activist and writer. They became lovers and when Nesbit found she was pregnant they became engaged, marrying in April 1880. After this scandalous (for Victorian society) beginning, the marriage would be an unconventional one. Initially, the couple lived separately—Nesbit with her family and Bland with his mother and her live-in companion Maggie Doran.
Initially, Edith Nesbit books were novels meant for adults, including The Prophet's Mantle (1885) and The Marden Mystery (1896) about the early days of the socialist movement. Written under the pen name of her third child 'Fabian Bland', these books were not successful. Nesbit generated an income for the family by lecturing around the country on socialism and through her journalism (she was editor of the Fabian Society's journal, Today).
In 1899 she had published The Adventures of the Treasure Seekers to great acclaim.
She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later connected to the Labour Party.
Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington, Surrey, the daughter of agricultural chemist and schoolmaster John Collis Nesbit. The death of her father when she was four and the continuing ill health of her sister meant that Nesbit had a transitory childhood, her family moving across Europe in search of healthy climates only to return to England for financial reasons. Nesbit therefore spent her childhood attaining an education from whatever sources were available—local grammars, the occasional boarding school but mainly through reading.
At 17 her family finally settled in London and aged 19, Nesbit met Hubert Bland, a political activist and writer. They became lovers and when Nesbit found she was pregnant they became engaged, marrying in April 1880. After this scandalous (for Victorian society) beginning, the marriage would be an unconventional one. Initially, the couple lived separately—Nesbit with her family and Bland with his mother and her live-in companion Maggie Doran.
Initially, Edith Nesbit books were novels meant for adults, including The Prophet's Mantle (1885) and The Marden Mystery (1896) about the early days of the socialist movement. Written under the pen name of her third child 'Fabian Bland', these books were not successful. Nesbit generated an income for the family by lecturing around the country on socialism and through her journalism (she was editor of the Fabian Society's journal, Today).
In 1899 she had published The Adventures of the Treasure Seekers to great acclaim.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
November 4, 2022
I found it to be too long and boring. The story is too similar to Rapunzel but with much more unnecessary embellishments to the already beloved story; it also has elements of Sleeping beauty and Gulliver's travels.
April 22, 2010
This perfectly illustrated version of Nesbit's charming fairy tales captures its beauty and its humor in exactly the right balance.
October 9, 2026
Young me would have adored this. Mother me would have delighted to share it with the kiddos. Older me loves it even more. I'd love my own copy. Nesbit's short stories are amazing, imo. I should try her novels again. I'm definitely recommending this to people I know irl. Oh, and the art by Lynch is lovely. Includes an illuminating introduction.
April 17, 2013
This delightful "modern" fairy tale describes the trials of a royal family beset with too many traditions from "historical" fairy tales. Borrowing themes from Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Melisande is a tale of traditional fairytale and mathematical logic. Unexpected things happen to characters when they don't think logically. The Prince become the hero because he CAN actually think logically!
Melisande is a princess subject to the usual misfortune: an uninvited wicked fairy at her christening casts an evil spell on her--"The Princess shall be bald." but King has a wish he was given by his fairy godmother locked in his safe, the Princess may use it however when she wishes the Queen asks the daughter to wish, "I wish I had golden hair a yard long, and that it would grow an inch every day, and grow twice as fast every time it was cut..." hoping the daughter will be even more beautiful.
Read the book to find out the rest.
Melisande is a princess subject to the usual misfortune: an uninvited wicked fairy at her christening casts an evil spell on her--"The Princess shall be bald." but King has a wish he was given by his fairy godmother locked in his safe, the Princess may use it however when she wishes the Queen asks the daughter to wish, "I wish I had golden hair a yard long, and that it would grow an inch every day, and grow twice as fast every time it was cut..." hoping the daughter will be even more beautiful.
Read the book to find out the rest.
August 7, 2021
Far ahead of its time in challenging entrenched traditional tales tropes, Nesbit takes a carnivalesque approach to the fairy tale. When the king and queen know the rules of christenings and bad fairies not invited, they choose to invite no fairies at all and save the hassle. Still, one particular fairy takes umbridge at this and ensures that the princess' hair will continually grow at an alarming rate for the rest of her life. Enter a prince to help save her but with wit and guile and...with her blessing and consent. He's not interested in getting permission from the king but from her alone.
Text=heavy, this is more illustrated book than picturebook but Lynch's work feels like it does more than merely embellish. It invites the reader in and provides a sumptuous insight into Nesbit's world. Delicious illustrations abound - a right, royal treat and a tale that still stands well even after 100 years.
Text=heavy, this is more illustrated book than picturebook but Lynch's work feels like it does more than merely embellish. It invites the reader in and provides a sumptuous insight into Nesbit's world. Delicious illustrations abound - a right, royal treat and a tale that still stands well even after 100 years.
August 2, 2008
Melisande first appeared as a short story "Melisande Or, Long and Short Division" in her collection: Nine Unlikely Tales for Children. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1901. It is a humorous and thoughtful satirical adaptation of classic fairy tale themes. The complete text is available online at the Sur La Lune Fairy Tales website. You can also hear the whole book read by Cori Samuel on the LibriVox website.
Borrowing themes from Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Gulliver's Travels and other classic fairy tales, Nesbit's story takes a mathematical approach to one of her often-used themes of magic wishes taken literally and going tragically wrong. In Melisande's case she is cursed at birth with baldness by a wicked fairy but her real problems begin when her mother uses another fairy's powers to wish she has "hair a yard long, and that it would grow an inch everyday, and grow twice as fast every time it was cut."
This 1990 ALA Notable Book is beautifully illustrated in full color by Patrick Lynch.
Borrowing themes from Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Gulliver's Travels and other classic fairy tales, Nesbit's story takes a mathematical approach to one of her often-used themes of magic wishes taken literally and going tragically wrong. In Melisande's case she is cursed at birth with baldness by a wicked fairy but her real problems begin when her mother uses another fairy's powers to wish she has "hair a yard long, and that it would grow an inch everyday, and grow twice as fast every time it was cut."
This 1990 ALA Notable Book is beautifully illustrated in full color by Patrick Lynch.
November 2, 2015
Loved this fairy tale. She found ways to include math too.
March 13, 2026
Conto de 1901 sem defeitos nenhum.
É mais ou menos uma releitura de A Bela Adormecida but not really. A história é sobre a princesa Melisandre que é bisneta da Aurora.
Achei uma leitura super divertida e recomendo pra quem gosta de contos de fadas.
É mais ou menos uma releitura de A Bela Adormecida but not really. A história é sobre a princesa Melisandre que é bisneta da Aurora.
Achei uma leitura super divertida e recomendo pra quem gosta de contos de fadas.
September 30, 2013
This was my first E. Nesbit and now I understand why her stories are getting repinned out the wazoo on Pinterest. This was seriously fun to read! I loved the use of math and logic in the story. The king manages to reason all the fairies out of cursing newborn Melisande, even though technically they all have a right to curse her since none of them were invited to the christening (he outreasons them, so there!). And when Melisande foolishes wishes for her hair to grow exponentially, Nesbit actually does the math in the story!
I almost wish this was a Cinderella story, just so I could recommend it for the panto. Ah well, I'll just share it anyway, somewhere else.
I almost wish this was a Cinderella story, just so I could recommend it for the panto. Ah well, I'll just share it anyway, somewhere else.
January 27, 2021
such a classic nesbit 'be careful what you wish for' story, w all her cheerful, wry, genre-aware Presence. more importantly i wld like to drown in a sea of hair as drawn by p.j. lynch, silken & shining & so so soft-looking !
(am also v touched that i have an ex-library copy, with date stamps from '93 to '05 ? just v weird and lovely to imagine a book moving through so many homes so many years ago)
(am also v touched that i have an ex-library copy, with date stamps from '93 to '05 ? just v weird and lovely to imagine a book moving through so many homes so many years ago)
January 25, 2020
Et virkelig fint og sjovt metaeventyr😊
June 24, 2025
Bonitinho.
May 1, 2015
Another one that I'd read as a child.
The Fairy Christening Curse strikes again! This princess' family tried to avoid it by inviting NO fairies to the party, in the hopes that if no one was invited, no one could get offended. Well, that didn't work, and their darling daughter ends up cursed with baldness!
Perhaps she should've left well enough alone... because when she's later gifted a wish to cure herself, a poorly-worded request causes her to end up with more hair than the kingdom can handle. When a well-meaning prince tries to help, the kingdom ends up with more princess than it can handle!
The Fairy Christening Curse strikes again! This princess' family tried to avoid it by inviting NO fairies to the party, in the hopes that if no one was invited, no one could get offended. Well, that didn't work, and their darling daughter ends up cursed with baldness!
Perhaps she should've left well enough alone... because when she's later gifted a wish to cure herself, a poorly-worded request causes her to end up with more hair than the kingdom can handle. When a well-meaning prince tries to help, the kingdom ends up with more princess than it can handle!
May 29, 2014
A clever take on fairy tail tropes in a world where they are all known -- at least of the most popular ones -- and people try to warp them.
A bit heavy on the smart and less on the feeling side.
A bit heavy on the smart and less on the feeling side.
March 17, 2008
I LOVE this book. I bought it for the beautiful illustrations, and loved it for the characters (... AND the beautiful illustrations)
March 22, 2008
One of my very favorite picture books! Beautifully illustrated, and a wonderful story!
March 24, 2008
Cute new fairy-tale. Based (in bits) around Sleeping Beauty and other, less well-known tales.
Loved the art.
Loved the art.
February 6, 2009
Classic Nesbit with fabulous illistrations. I loved it.
November 12, 2015
This is one of the most beautiful books I own, a wonderful E. Nesbit story with all of her wit, gloriously illustrated by PJ Lynch. I would recommend it for any lover or collector of fairy tales.
Want to Read
August 5, 2018Great fun! She borrowed from so many familiar fairy tales, but made it her own. The illustrations are very nice. My boys really liked this one.
July 6, 2022
Fabulous. It's going on the shelf right next to Catkin. Such gorgeous, gorgeous pictures by P.J. Lynch!
I think this is my first E. Nesbit story (I know, I know - I have the Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet, and The Story of the Amulet omnibus on the shelf, AND a Wordsworth hardcover of The Railway Children, so I will get there.. and I just realised, as it was written in 1906, I probably could have found all of these online for free due to lapsed copyright... damn and blast!). Side note: These books are FREE, absolutely, positively FREE, in multiple formats, without signing up for anything, on Project Gutenberg!.
Sigh. Alright, you can also read Melisande for free, but let's be honest - I bought this book in a heartbeat because of P. J. Lynch's watercolours.
The story is good - very good. It's wry and mathematically sound. It reads like a typical old-fashioned fairytale, where the princess is good, and because she is good, she is beautiful. The King and the princess's suitor are both clever males who solve problems, and the Queen and Princess Melisande are innocent victims of problems, sometimes those they bring upon themselves. The King doesn't take the good advice of the Queen, of course, and also brings problems upon his household. So there are the usual tropes, and, imho, it's not worth getting all hot under the collar about it. It's still an adorable princess-y fairytale, and it's worth reading. And credit where credit's due - Melisande is good and kind and uncharacteristically humane for what I'd expect from a fairytale princess.
I'm sure there are enough reviews already, so I'll just say buy this edition (P. J. Lynch) for the artwork. The only complaint I have is the order of the images to the text - often the images precede the action, and I find that rather annoying.
If you don't want to buy this one, the story is a free read or download on the not-for-profit, volunteer-run, good-karma Project Gutenberg (Gutenberg, as in the fella who made the first printing press and made commercial books possible in the first place!). It would be a short and amusing fairytale for readers/listeners who have already heard the basics (it's loosely based on Rapunzel; familiarity with fairy godmothers, both evil and good, would be an asset).
I think this is my first E. Nesbit story (I know, I know - I have the Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet, and The Story of the Amulet omnibus on the shelf, AND a Wordsworth hardcover of The Railway Children, so I will get there.. and I just realised, as it was written in 1906, I probably could have found all of these online for free due to lapsed copyright... damn and blast!). Side note: These books are FREE, absolutely, positively FREE, in multiple formats, without signing up for anything, on Project Gutenberg!.
Sigh. Alright, you can also read Melisande for free, but let's be honest - I bought this book in a heartbeat because of P. J. Lynch's watercolours.
The story is good - very good. It's wry and mathematically sound. It reads like a typical old-fashioned fairytale, where the princess is good, and because she is good, she is beautiful. The King and the princess's suitor are both clever males who solve problems, and the Queen and Princess Melisande are innocent victims of problems, sometimes those they bring upon themselves. The King doesn't take the good advice of the Queen, of course, and also brings problems upon his household. So there are the usual tropes, and, imho, it's not worth getting all hot under the collar about it. It's still an adorable princess-y fairytale, and it's worth reading. And credit where credit's due - Melisande is good and kind and uncharacteristically humane for what I'd expect from a fairytale princess.
I'm sure there are enough reviews already, so I'll just say buy this edition (P. J. Lynch) for the artwork. The only complaint I have is the order of the images to the text - often the images precede the action, and I find that rather annoying.
If you don't want to buy this one, the story is a free read or download on the not-for-profit, volunteer-run, good-karma Project Gutenberg (Gutenberg, as in the fella who made the first printing press and made commercial books possible in the first place!). It would be a short and amusing fairytale for readers/listeners who have already heard the basics (it's loosely based on Rapunzel; familiarity with fairy godmothers, both evil and good, would be an asset).
September 28, 2025
Well, it's a good thing the people of the kingdom were both happy and also good because they were happy... Because imagine your kingdom in a time of war or famine, and the royal family is all tied up in their daughter's hair, quite literally. Also, this book makes an excellent point... why the hell would anyone allow fairies anywhere near their child? But even when you play it smart, they still find ways to ruin your life, waste your time, and harrass your innocent children. On the other hand, an entire generation was able to enjoy some pretty neat princess hair products. I'd liken it to those nifty Hercules plates that came out in the 90s.
January 8, 2021
This is a picture book that is long with many words, more like a chapter book. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story is interesting and clever. I liked discussing with my children how an impulsive mistake (as the daughter, Melisande, listens to her mother and wishes her hair to grow longer and thicker EVERY NIGHT) can have bad consequences. The way the problem is solved in the book is interesting. Yay for originality.
February 18, 2026
Beautifully illustrated fairy tale told by a master. King and queen agree not to invite ANY fairies to their daughter's christening for fear of enraging the one they forgot. Turns out they all got enraged instead. But after the first does her worst, the king calls a halt. His daughter would be bald but nothing more. But he has a secret wish. Will that go well? Maybe not right away, but the right suitor has to come along and all will be well.
June 22, 2018
I admire how Nesbit amalgamated many famous fairy tales into Melisande, but the contorted solutions were just that: contorted and senseless. I did laugh, however, with the line "cut the princess from the hair instead of cut the hair from the princess." That was clever. The children chuckled throughout the reading, and that deserved at least three stars.
January 31, 2026
What a fun short story! I’m really glad I finally got the chance to read it.
The way this tale differs from modern fairy tales was so interesting — and funny — to follow, while still being charming. Especially when you compare it to the widely known story of Rapunzel!
Honestly, if it were longer, I’d happily devour every single page. 💚✨
The way this tale differs from modern fairy tales was so interesting — and funny — to follow, while still being charming. Especially when you compare it to the widely known story of Rapunzel!
Honestly, if it were longer, I’d happily devour every single page. 💚✨
June 24, 2026
A unique and original fairy tale about a princess's curse.
Listened to the audiobook version "Melisande", "Goops and How to Be Them" and "Prince Prigiio"
Listened to the audiobook version "Melisande", "Goops and How to Be Them" and "Prince Prigiio"
December 5, 2021
This book is about a woman who had a wish given to her by her father. She got hair and it kept growing. It eventually got cut off with and then ended by putting hair in a scale with her. It is a good book with math connections.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2024
It is more goofy than I usually like but still so clever in its contrivedness and far-fetchedness that we read it over and over. And books you read that many times get a patina, a glow around them. So this one has become very dear through repetition.
May 10, 2024
I adore Nesbit, and this fairy tale did not disappoint! This was a charming fairytale that was almost logical in a sense. It was a breath of fresh air for a "modern" (1901) fairytale and was enjoyed by our entire family.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews