Title of the work
Country of the First Edition
Country/countries of popularity
Original Language
First Edition Date
First Edition Details
Edna Barth, Cupid and Psyche: A Love Story. New York NY: Clarion Books, 1976, 64 pp.
ISBN
Genre
Fiction
Illustrated works
Myths
Novels
Target Audience
Crossover
Cover
We are still trying to obtain permission for posting the original cover.
Author of the Entry:
Ayelet Peer, Bar-Ilan University, ayelet.peer@gmail.com
Peer-reviewer of the Entry:
Lisa Maurice, Bar-Ilan University, mauril68@gmail.com
Susan Deacy, University of Roehampton, s.deacy@roehampton.ac.uk
Edna Barth
, 1900 - 1981
(Author)
Edna Bath was born in Keokuk Iowa. She worked as a librarian and teacher and was also an editor and an author of children’s books. among her books were Hearts, Cupids and Red Roses: the Story of Valentine symbols; Balder and Mistletoe: A Story for the Winter Holidays, Jack O’Lantern, and more.
Sources:
Profile at the bookologymagazine.com (accessed: July 4, 2018).
Profile at the goodreads.com (accessed: July 4, 2018).
Profile at the bookologymagazine.com (accessed: July 4, 2018).
Bio prepared by Ayelet Peer, Bar-Ilan University, ayelet.peer@gmail.com
Ati Forberg (Illustrator)
Summary
The book offers a short retelling of the love story between the mortal Psyche and the god Cupid, son of Venus. The original tale appeared in Apuleius' Metamorphoses (the golden ass). The god of love falls in love with the beautiful mortal Psyche, who is at first ignorant of his true identity. Yet his mother objects to their relationship. Thus the lovers need to fight many obstacles to keep their love. The story is a retelling of the well-known love story, adapted for a young readership. It narrates the obstacles facing young couples and how love can triumph all.
Analysis
This is a retelling of Apuleius' Cupid and Psyche. The story is accompanied by attractive black and white illustrations of the characters, with a drawing of an Ionian column between the pages, adding to the classical feel. It is a standard retelling of the myth; Psyche's beauty and the jealousy it causes with her sisters and Venus. However, a new addition to the story is that Cupid sprinkles Psyche with water from Venus' bitter fountain while she is asleep. Yet he becomes captivated by her beauty, and regretting his action, he sprinkles her with sweet fountain waters. This seems to be taken from Thomas Bulfinch's influential, The Age of the Fable, clearly a source for this version.
Another aspect highlighted in the story is that Psyche wished to perform great deeds; she longed to be a prince who could do brave things; as a princess, her only prospect was marriage. From these lines, we can see the empowering message in the story, for, unlike in Apuleius or even Bullfinch, in the end, Psyche can achieve great deeds regardless of her gender. Her determination is put to the test when she needs to convince Venus of her love for Cupid. In her journey for Cupid, Psyche encounters Ceres and Juno, who refuse to help her against Venus, forcing Psyche to fulfil Venus' tasks. The end of the story is joyful with Psyche and Cupid happily married, a marriage of equals as Zeus promises her. Psyche has learned to act bravely and independently, rather than being a pawn of her parents or jealous sister. Learning to fight for what was truly important to her, she is no longer a helpless victim.
Further Reading
Maurice, Lisa, "Cupid and Psyche for Children", in Stephen Harrison and Regine May, Cupid and Psyche: The Reception of Apuleius' Love Story since 1600, Oxford: OUP, 2020.
