Napoli, Donna Jo. Beast.NAPOLI, Donna Jo. Beast. Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster U.S. publishing company. It was founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon (1899–1960) and M. Lincoln Schuster (1897–1970), whose initial project, the original crossword-puzzle book, was a best-seller. , Pulse. 260p. c2000.0-689-87005-1. $5.99. JS To quote from the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, July 2000: The striking cover of this book, featuring a lion's face partially pulled away to reveal a man's face underneath, should immediately clue readers in that this is a new version of "Beauty and the Beast Beauty and the Beast is a traditional fairy tale (type 425C -- search for a lost husband -- in the Aarne-Thompson classification). The first published version of the fairy tale was a meandering rendition by Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, published in ." Here the story is told from the point of view of the Beast, who is really a gentle young Persian prince named Orasmyn. When he makes the mistake of permitting a flawed animal to be chosen for a religious sacrifice, a wicked fairy takes her revenge by turning the prince into an animal himself--a lion, on the day that his father, the king, is to go lion hunting. "Only a woman's love can undo the curse," the fairy warns. But at first survival is more important than love; Orasmyn must leave his home if he is to live, and he travels to India and back, and then to France, trying to remain faithful to his Muslim beliefs and his love for literature while coping with the baser instincts of a beast, lust as well as bloodlust blood´lust n. 1. a desire for bloodshed. Noun 1. bloodlust - a desire for bloodshed desire - the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state . With difficulty, he learns how to hunt and how to survive, but the need for love is not forgotten. In southwest France he finds a deserted castle, and makes it his home. A man wanders in seeking shelter, and Orasmyn convinces him that his family's life will be forfeit To lose to another person or to the state some privilege, right, or property due to the commission of an error, an offense, or a crime, a breach of contract, or a neglect of duty; to subject property to confiscation; or to become liable for the payment of a penalty, as the result of a if he does not send his daughter to live in the castle. When Belle arrives, she is afraid but acts bravely, and she wins Orasmyn's heart with her goodness even as he longs for her love--which is granted to him at last, breaking the terrible spell. The tension between the young man's mind and the beast's body it is trapped in is beautifully expressed here; the struggle between reason and instinct may resonate res·o·nate v. res·o·nat·ed, res·o·nat·ing, res·o·nates v.intr. 1. To exhibit or produce resonance or resonant effects. 2. with many teens. Orasmyn's anguish is well conveyed, as well as the physical sensations of being a lion--the thrill of the hunt, the drive to mate, the contentment Contentment Aglaos poor peasant said by the Delphic oracle to be happier than the king because he was contented. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 15] of a full stomach. This is an intriguing and deeply affecting story, and the exotic Persian aspect adds to its flavor. There is historical precedence for Napoli's version of the tale: in an author's note at the end she explains that she based it on Charles Lamb's 1811 poetic version, in which the prince was Persian. Napoli is head of the linguistics department Noun 1. linguistics department - the academic department responsible for teaching and research in linguistics department of linguistics academic department - a division of a school that is responsible for a given subject at Swarthmore College Swarthmore College, at Swarthmore, Pa.; coeducational; founded 1864 by the Society of Friends. It maintains a cooperative program with Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, and the Univ. of Pennsylvania. , and she uses many Persian and Arabic words in the text; a glossary is appended. J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. |
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