Court of Swans: a retelling of “The Wild Swans”

This month at Storyteller Squad, we’re going to visit with bestselling YA author, Melanie Dickerson and discuss her recent novel, Court of Swans.

Court of Swans, the first in the Dericott Tale series by Melanie Dickerson, is a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans.” Dickerson published 14 fairy tale-based novels and three regency spy novels, so far, with another one, Castle of Refuge, slated to hit shelves in June.

Readers do see swans in Court of Swans, however, this retelling has only a few similarities to the original tale. Today, I’ll highlight some comparisons.

First similarity: evil stepmother

The story begins in 1378 England when Delia and her seven brothers’ father marries an evil stepmother. Andersen’s story begins when the father marries an evil sorceress. The rest of Dickerson’s story happens in 1381 after the father dies.

In Andersen’s tale, the king lives and the evil stepmother turns the father against his children before cursing the 11 brothers so that they live as swans by day and princes by night. The sister, Elise, lives with peasants for a time, but after being rejected by her father, the king, she runs away to a forest where an old woman tells her she has seen 11 swans with crowns on their heads. When Elise finds her brothers, they decide to fly across a large body of water that takes two days to traverse. One rocky outcropping large enough to hold 12 people rests midway. They make it across, but it is rather close and scary. In a dream she learns that she must weave 11 coats of mail with long sleeves to deliver her brothers from the curse. If she talks, her brothers will die. She must pick nettles, which burn and blister her hands, crush them into flax, and use this to weave the coats of mail. While she is busy weaving in a cave, a king finds her and brings her back to the castle.

Dickerson’s story is about seven sons of the late Earl of Dericott, who are arrested for treason and for murder of the king’s coroner. The youngest son is only 10 years old. Lady Delia, 18, flees from her home in the night because she suspects her stepmother brought about these false accusations to steal their inheritance. She seeks advice from her aunt, who is the abbess at Rosings Abbey.

Second similarity: devoted sister

Delia’s aunt advises her to work for the mistress of linens at the palace sewing and embroidering. She plans to apply to be a lady-in-waiting for the new queen when she arrives and beg for help in rescuing her brothers. But, of course, things don’t go well.

While her brothers are imprisoned in London Tower, Delia seeks help from two soldiers: Geoffrey, the one who arrested her brothers, and Elliot, who is a guard. Worry causes Delia to make some mistakes in judgment. Geoffrey supplies Delia with yarn, which she uses to knit sweaters for each brother to keep warm as the weather turns cold. Delia supplies food for her brothers.

The original tale has Elise married to the king and living, mute, in the castle, weaving the 11 coats of mail. The archbishop accuses Elise of being a witch. She refuses to speak and keeps weaving, determined to save her brothers. As the cart takes her to be executed, she works on the last coat. The 11 swans fly in to protect her from the angry townspeople. Just as the executioner grabs her hand, she tosses the coats onto her brothers, who turn into princes. Elise proclaims her innocence before collapsing. The twigs piled and ready for burning Elise turn into red roses with a white blossom at the top. Her husband, the king, places the white blossom on her bosom. She awakes. They return to the palace with rejoicing.

Do you know another similarity?

Court of Swans tells of the race to save Delia’s seven brothers. The similarities in the stories are the sweater/coats and an evil stepmother, but you’ll just have to read the book to learn how it all ends. One more similarity exists—pay close attention and see if you discover it. It just might appear in the quiz game at the end of the month.

The young child-king Richard’s corrupt advisors work against them. Will anyone help the seven innocent brothers escape? How will the Dericott sons clear their name? Which soldier is trustworthy? Amongst all the corruption, will justice be served?

Join us this month for further discussion of Melanie Dickerson’s Court of Swans.

Photo Credit: Candice Yamnitz