Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair

Plot summary

Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair, set in the forested land of Oakenrealm, was Morris' reimagining and recasting of the medieval Lay of Havelock the Dane, with his displaced royal heirs Christopher and Goldilind standing in for the original story's Havelock and Goldborough.

In contrast to his source, Morris emphasizes the romantic aspect of the story, giving a prominent place to the heroine's misfortunes and bringing to the forefront the love story between her and the hero; the warfare by which the hero regains his heritage is relegated to a secondary role. Also unlike both the source and most of Morris's other fantasies, there is little or no supernatural element in this version of the story.

Christopher is portrayed as initially ignorant of his true identity, leading to an emotional conflict between the protagonists to reconcile their mutual love and attraction with what they believe to be the profound disparity in their social status and shame of their forced marriage. This situation is resolved when the two fall in with Jack of the Tofts, who gives refuge to Christopher after his sons rescue the hero from an assassination attempt by a servant of the usurper Earl Rolf.

Jack informs Christopher of his true station and gathers together an army to help him challenge the usurper. When the hosts meet, the commander of Rolf's forces, Baron Gandolf of Brimside, challenges Jack to single combat, but Christopher claims the honor from Jack and proves his worth by defeating the opposing champion.

Influence

Morris' novels were particularly influential among the Inklings. According to critic Robert Boenig, the novel was an important influence on C. S. Lewis's children's story Prince Caspian.

Copyright

The copyright for this story has expired in the United States, and thus now resides in the public domain there. The text is available via Project Gutenberg.

References

References

1. [[L. Sprague de Camp]], ''[[Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers. Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers: The Makers of Heroic Fantasy]]'', Arkham House, 1976, p. 40 {{ISBN. 0-87054-076-9
2. Eugene D. LeMire, ''A Bibliography of William Morris'', New Castle, Del., Oak Knoll Press, 2006, pp. 198-199
3. Robert Boenig, "[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Prince+Caspian+and+Child+Christopher+and+Goldilind+the+Fair-a0163972507 Prince Caspian and Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair]," in ''[[Mythlore]]'', no. 97/98, spring/summer 2007.