Reviews for The Rose and the Ring - Or the History of Prince Giglio and Prince Bulbo

The average rating for The Rose and the Ring - Or the History of Prince Giglio and Prince Bulbo based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2015-04-18 00:00:00 Will Roy According to the author's introduction, this was intended to be put on as a dramatic presentation, or pantomime, at Christmastime, for children. It was indeed published at Christmas (1854), but I'm not at all convinced that the main intended audience was children. This is, technically, a fairy tale, but it's mainly a political and social satire, caricaturing the events and personalities of the day. I'm quite certain that quite a lot of the humor flew past me, but it seems that it was quite timely. The titular rose and ring are magical objects that makes the bearer seem irresistibly beautiful to those around them. They originate with the Fairy Blackstick, who is quite unpopular after wishing some infants 'misfortune' at their christenings, rather than magical blessings. However, sometimes a bit of misfortune is good for the character. The plot is a rather slapstick romantic comedy, with quite a lot of lampooning of the upper crust. It's entertaining - but was probably even funnier 150 years ago.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-12-22 00:00:00 Bob Blum Inspired by a Christmas story devised for his daughters, Thackeray’s The Rose and The Ring is an old favourite. First published in 1854, subtitled “a fireside pantomime for great and small children,” it’s a wonderful parody of a traditional fairy tale, with a thinly-veiled satirical edge and a dash of macabre, gothic melodrama. The actions of disgruntled Fairy Blackstick, fed up with her royal godchildren growing up to be vain and frivolous, spark a complex chain of events across the kingdoms of Paflagonia and Crim Tartary, in which a princess is lost, a prince displaced, an ill-tempered princess gets her comeuppance, magical items transform the unlikeliest of individuals, and a pair of lions comes in handy. Thackeray’s plot machinations rival Shakespeare’s, and, as with Shakespeare’s comedies, all’s well that ends well. I love this one, it’s a marvellously entertaining, surprisingly gripping but light-hearted piece, enhanced by Thackeray’s delightful, humorous, original illustrations.