My Love, My Love or the Peasant Girl

by Rosa Guy

Rosa Guy’s tropical retelling of "The Little Mermaid" is the gorgeous, tragic love story of Désirée, a beautiful peasant girl who devotes herself to the handsome, aristocratic young man whose life she has saved. When his upper-class fami-ly feels that Désirée’s skin is too dark and her family too poor for a boy destined for power and wealth, Désirée proves that she is willing to give everything for love. This lovely reprint will break your heart.

Genres: Fiction, Fairy Tales, Romance, Fantasy, Retellings, Classics, Musicals

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Rosa Cuthbert Guy (1925-2012) was an American writer.

Born in Trinidad, Rosa Guy moved to the United States with her family at the age of seven, where they settled in New York in 1932. Soon after, her parents, Henry and Audrey Cuthbert, died. After, she and her sister went to many foster homes. She quit school at age fourteen and took a job to help support her family.

During World War II she joined the American Negro Theatre. She studied theatre and writing at the University of New York.

Guy wrote a number of books aimed at young adults. Many of her books reflect on the dependability of family members who love and care for one other. Her works include: Bird at My Window (1966), Children of Longing (1971), The Friends (1973), Ruby (1976), Edith Jackson (1978), The Disappearance (1979), Mirror of Her Own (1981), A Measure of Time (1983), and New Guys Around the Block (1983), Paris, Pee Wee and Big Dog (1984), My Love, My Love, or the Peasant Girl (1985), And I Heard a Bird Sing (1987).

She is divorced from Warner Guy, with whom she had a son, Warner Guy Jr.

Reviews

[Mostly on Storygraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully-written story is an interesting modern rendition of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid" and compared together, bring about important comparisons. They share the same main ideas, yet the distinct difference that help emphasize the different themes expressed by both stories.

In My Love, My Love, the teenaged dreamer here is named Desiree Dieu-Donne, an island Ti Moune (or orphan) who, while without parents, is raised by her affectionate adoptive parents, Tonton Julian and Mam Euralie. Just like the character namesake in "The Little Mermaid," Desiree's life is changed when she falls in love with a comely young prince, Daniel Beauxhomme, a youthful rich mulatto who she nurses back to health after he is in a car accident. Daniel, just like the mermaid's prince, is of a different world, and not meant to be a love interest at all, and Daniel, just like the prince, must return to his old world, taking with him the simplistic heart of his young lover.

Both girls in these stories go to extreme lengths to be reunited with their sweethearts. Desiree leaves her family and village and places her life in the blood-stained hands of Papa Ge, the island's horrid messenger of the sea. An interesting feminist symbol is utilized as Desiree, forced to wear a new pair of shoes, endures the immense pain in her feet even though each step was "a new experience in torture." While the mermaid gives over her voice for freedom, Desiree is a mute in her own sense since she knows not the languages of the foreign diplomats.

The interloper who moves in the way of the two "star-cross'd lovers" in both stories is everything the protagonist is not: confident, articulate, and rich. Desiree, like the mermaid, realizes that she has endangered her life over a man who looks lost to her.

Hidden in My Love, My Love is the sometimes sad and total cost of challenging established circumstances and status quo. It shows how high the price can be for selfless love.

It is interesting to note the commonalities between "The Little Mermaid" and this modern rendition. Throughout, there are subtle, and less-than-subtle allusions to that well-loved, later-Disney-fied classic. Just note the allusion made by one of the characters, Mama Euralie: "She [Desiree] gives up her honor to this man, born of a world as different from hers as land is from the sea."

For good comparisons and a more interesting reading experience, read this novel after, or alongside, the version of Hans Christian Anderson (and no, it is quite different from Disney's cartoon!). I recommend this for adolescents and adults, as well as anyone interesting in modernized fairy tales, or in the true non-Disney versions of the stories we love.

[Jessica Tucker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was okay. It was really slow going and at the end I felt that it was all just shoved into your face. I got it for my birthday about one maybe two years ago because I had seen the play Once on This Island that it was based on. It was a disappointment at the end after seeing the play. Overall if you're looking for a fun read, I wouldn't suggest this one.

[Walter Cholewczynski · Rating 3 out of 5]

"...Isn't it the pot that cooks the food which suffers the pain of the fire?"
And another added: "Hélas, oui. And when the food is done, who's barred from the table? That same pot. But what to do? Ti Moune, that's the way of the world."

I thinks this interchange sums up the story succinctly -- a sad story of a soul thrown away by mismatched expectations of love.

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually had the intention to read this before I saw the revival of Once On This Island in November and am glad I did not. It’s always been a sad story with a terrible lesson, but at least the musical allows for a beautiful ending.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting and many tears were shed.


Review coming soon.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is easy to fall in love with this story during the first paragraph!
Told with grace and eloquence, it is impossible to put down.

[jenelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trinidadian author's re-telling of The Little Mermaid with post-colonial island racial theme, more magic & tragic for having a real context. read this on the boat, part of my integrated studies, along with mapping out a small island off the coast of Trinidad. loved the voodoo, love a fairy tale, didn't know a thing about love & heartache.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gorgeous story. Rosa Guy is a storyteller extraordinaire, who can also write (the two do not always go together!). I had no idea this book existed, let alone that it was the source material for one of my favorite musicals-but I'm so happy to have read it. It's absolutely lovely!

[rachel ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

had to read this for once on this island, the musical i'm in.
umm... it was okay... i felt like ti moune wasn't as sympathetic as the author wanted her to be- in the end she's just a girl who runs off and naively ignores everything she doesn't want to hear. and for me, the MC's likeability is a pretty important thing. <3
writing voice: great. everything was described beautifully, and i could see the scenes clearly as they played out. if i didn't have to read it for the musical, though, i might've stopped early on, as the first chapter started slowly, with a lot of setting exposition. but it did get better.
probably not worth a read unless you're really invested in the storyline already, but if you are, then it's really good. (:

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I read this book, I couldn’t help but hear the musical in my head. I liked reading the inspiration for the songs and seeing how the two stories differed. If I were to read it again, I would still be as dillusional as Ti Moune, hoping it would end differently this time.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Love, My Love or The Peasant girl by Rosa Guy is a story about Desiree Dieu Donne or "God Given Desire" and her journey for a life outside of her own. She is a poor black peasant girl living in the "Jewel of the Antilles" or what is now considered Haiti. She was chosen by the gods to live out a magical fate filled with love and death to see which one conquers. The story begins with a storm caused by the God of the seas, Agwe, who causes a car to crash on the peasant side of the island. Desiree after the storm discovers the boy who was driving the car, Daniel Beauxhomme, the son of the wealthiest man on the rich side of the island. She nurses him back to health contrary to the God of death, Papa Ge's wishes and falls in love with him. Her father goes looking for Monsieur Beauxhomme, Daniel's father to tell him he has his son . Daniel's people the Beauxhommes took him back to their fine hotel with its high iron gates on the other side of the island. Her father and mother begged her not to go and wondered why she wanted to leave them for the rich who treat them so bad. Desiree went to go find him since she was the only who could take care of him and left all she knew behind for something more to life than just being a peasant. Once she got to the Hotel she was outcasted for her dark skin compared to the lighter skinned Beauxhommes, who are descendants from Napoleon but were cast out of France for fighting for their freedom. Once Daniel recovers he takes Desiree as his mistress but soon she discovered he is fit to be wed to Andrea a beautiful blonde wealthily woman and is kicked out. She waits two weeks outside the Hotel gates for Daniel to come and be with her but he never shows up and she dies of a broken heart and is taken by the Gods. Where she died a giant tree grew and broke the gate of the Hotel eliminating the idea of separation by color and class that didn't allow Desiree and Daniel to be together in the first place. The whole book itself is filled with real historical facts since this is happened to Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the 1800's. It explains how the division of race and class effects how people love and express them selves as a "different" people even thoug hthey are all humans. When Rosa Guy published this book a lot of people of color were finally getting their rights as humans since it was 20 years after the civil rights movement but racism and class division still effected the way many people of color were treated. Overall, the timeless story of love being torn apart as well as love vs death is beautifully written by Guy.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a major part of my research to direct the Broadway Musical, Once On this Island. It is the book on which the musical is based. The story is of Desire', a peasant girl who discovers an accident victim on the road near her village. He is a young prince, Daniel, a Beaux Homme. She nurses him back from the dead and follows him when his family returns him to the other side of the island. She falls deeply in love and willingly gives her entire self to nurse him to complete recovery. However their families are from two different groups and Desire's skin is too dark for the lighter skinned Daniel. The story is called a 'retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid. I would compare it more to Romeo and Juliet. Rosa Guy's tale is much darker than the Musical, even though the musical does a faithful job of adapting it to musical form. The book guided me towards a satisfying staging of the musical. The whole process was a wonderful experience.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was extremely sad!! Gosh, I knew it was gonna be sad, but I didnt know it was gonna end that sadly! I wish it had ended happily, but that would be my first book that I have ever read that didn't have a happy ending. I didn't cry at the end, but, for people who have strong emotions and cry easily, I would suggest a box of tissues.

[Jessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I felt about this book. It's a version of the little mermaid so it was a very tragic ending and yes, I do like happy endings!

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved her description of the ocean in this book, being an ocean-lover myself, but didn't love how it ended. Sorry, I like a happy ending.

[BurgendyA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this incredible & unforgettable story yesterday. I decided to read this book because I loved the adaptation from a high school production that my ex-boyfriend's sister played Ti-Moune. I loved the musical that I saw five years ago. Three week ago I saw the Broadway Musical "Once On This Island" & it totally blew me away. I loved it the show was poignant, beautiful, heart touching & amazing. I still couldn't believe that this years Tony Awards it only received an award for best revival. I thought the show deserved more. So when I found out it based from a novel I decided to read the book. If I knew that before I would've read it before watching the musical. But luckily there really much of a difference between the novel & musical.

The story is of Desire', a peasant girl who is often called Ti-Moune by her loved ones. She prays to the gods and daydreams, Desire is truly young at heart & follows it. She discovers an accident victim on the road not so far from her village. The young lad she saves is Daniel, a Beaux Homme . She nurses him back from the dead and follows him when his family returns him to the other side of the island. She falls deeply in love and willingly gives herself to nurse him to complete recovery. However their families are from two different groups and Desire's skin is too dark for the lighter skinned(Mulatto) Daniel. Also his family is of higher status in the Island. The setting takes place in French Antilles at the Caribbean Sea. The story is truly a 'retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's classic- The Little Mermaid. I would compare it more to Romeo and Juliet. It is bittersweet but I really don't want to touch all the details to avoid spoiling it to those who wants to read the book or watch the musical. The story has an excellent/valuable lesson that everyone could relate to & learn.

This is the first book of Rosa Guy that I've read. She written beautifully this captivating novel. It does not drag at all. I give it two thumb up & ten top stars. I would recommend anyone to read the book & watch the musical. You will definitely love it. =)~

[Caleb Hoyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another book I came to mostly because I was familiar with a musical adapted from it, in this case, Once On This Island. Well, I can definitely say that the musical improves upon its source material in pretty much every way. It clarifies and deepens the role that the gods play, providing motivation for the main character which is very underdeveloped in the novel. It also provides a greater context for the significance of her sacrifice. Mostly I was blown away by how unsatisfying the conclusion of the novel is. It is unbelievably grim, with the main characters corpse literally being thrown to the side of the road with the garbage, with no sense that her death had any greater meaning. I’m glad I read it, and the writing was often beautiful. But I was constantly comparing it with something that told the same story only better.

[Morgan Kail-Ackerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

So very tragic but still beautiful and gorgeous. I really love this adaptation, and think it’s almost better than the original. I got into this book because of the musical Once On This Island. Although I believe the musical has a better representation of the gods, or at least they are in it more, the book is really good at expanding the story and making it more race representative than the musical. Both of these are really beautiful stories, ones that are pretty different from one another, but I love them both the same. Truly beautiful representation of Caribbean mythology in a tragic love story and race conflict in social classes.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as retellings go, this was an extremely faithful adaptation of “The Little Mermaid,” but set in the Caribbean. And for those of you like me who grew up with the Disney version, I’m not referring to our lovely red headed Ariel here; I’m talking about the extremely depressing original version written by Hans Christian Andersen. I actually read the original story last year and was absolutely horrified, and reading this definitely brought that back. Still, it’s a very well written story! And I’m very excited to see the musical adaptation “Once on this Island,” though I’m desperately hoping that it’s Disney-fied, or I’m going to leave it crying.

[Kiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Love, My Love is interesting when viewed as the source material for Once On This Island or as a retelling of The Little Mermaid, but I didn't care for it much outside of those contexts. I think the musical significantly improved the story (but as someone who's loved Once On This Island for over a decade, I am undoubtedly biased); however, the roots are definitely here, and it's a more faithful adaptation of the book than I originally imagined. Mostly I'm fascinated by how it responds to and mirrors Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid; I feel like there must be some good deep dives and/or academic papers on that somewhere.

[Sofia Quinteiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still trying to wrap my head around parts of it. Beautifully written and definitely heartbreaking. It seems like folks go into reading it wanting to like the ending/ ready to compare it to either The Little Mermaid or Once on This Island (which, fair enough, one of these it was adapted from and the other adapted into) and coming out disappointed. In truth colorism, colonialism, and racism never make sense and are not compatible with unconditional love- and I thought that was communicated quite well by this story.

[Nicole Ankenmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to this book after falling in love with the musical adaptation, Once on This Island, advertised broadly as a combination retelling of The Little Mermaid and Romeo and Juliet. I think the book lives up to that literary frame, and sits comfortably in the category of beautiful tragedy. My Love, My Love is a modern myth that treads the surprisingly thin line between cynicism and hope in a nation overtly fractured along racial lines. Worth reading.

[Nicole Palumbo Davies · Rating 2 out of 5]

This "fable" is the source of the musical Once On This Island, which I love. My problem with the book is that it is written as a fable, so the characters are one-dimensional and the story is reduced to the bare minimum. The gods are complex characters in the play, but in the book, it is never clear if the gods are figments of the villagers imaginations. This makes the villagers seem simple-minded and delusional.

[Anaya M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was already familiar with the Broadway show “Once on this Island” (which I love), but my friend told me that it was inspired by this book, which made me eager to read. This book made me feel all types of emotions: excitement, fear, hope. It even sent me into tears. This book is very similar to the musical, yet very different. It had a slow beginning at first, but trust me its worth reading. Rosa Guy did her thing with this story 🙌🏾!

[Jonah Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely isn't the bittersweet fairy tale that "Once on this Island" is. It's a cynical Greek tragedy, but that's not to say it doesn't have more than its fair share of sinister brilliance. If I had read this with no prior knowledge of the musical, I would say the only possible adaptation would be a film by Darren Aronofsky. (Or Ari Aster, in the vein of "Midsommar")

[Kathryn McKendry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the original tale which the Broadway musical Once On This Island was based on. Seeing the musical was life changing for me.

Rosa Guy’s beautifully written fable of the peasant girl Ti Moune gives a more in depth look at who Ti Moune was and what she had to overcome to be with Daniel.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

[Dr. Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw “Once On This Island” on Broadway. I directed the full version with my drama club students and the Jr. version at the last school I worked at. I know this story and still reading this book opened a different layer of understanding! I am in shock at how it ended, but it was a good easy read of a familiar tale. 😭😭😭

[cossette · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few tries to get into the headspace of reading this book. Admittedly, I only read this book after getting into the musical, Once on This Island, and I was surprised at how different the endings were...

[Anna Smithberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

After seeing Once On This Island, I thought I’d read the book on which it was based, and it is beautiful and sad. Guy writes with the voice of a storyteller, bringing you along for the ride, giving just enough detail without bogging down the narrative. Just beautiful.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a beautiful and heartbreaking fable about a young girl who gave everything she had for love. Rosa Guy wove such a beautiful tale and her writing is beautifully rich and vivid. FUN FACT: The musical, ‘Once on this Island,’ was adapted from this book. Needless to say, I highly recommend both!