Cinderella from Vietnam

Press, 30 August 1980, Page 17

Cinderella from Vietnam

. Despite Frazer, and, more recently, a host of lesser authorities alerting us to the amazing similarities in the folklore of different countries, each new example gives a “pleasant shock of mild surprise”. A new book for children, “In the Land of Small Dragon”, is an authentic Vietnamese folktale..' which bears a close resemblance to Cinderella. In the Land of Small Dragon there lived a man with two daughters, Tam, beautiful, good and hardworking, and Cam, cruel and ill-favoured. Tam, oppressed and 'ill-treated by her jealous stepmother and stepsister, is helped by a clouddressed fairy. She is given a beautiful dress and jewelled slippers, one of Which a bird drops in front of the emperor’s son who swears he will marry the lady, whose foot fits the

slipper. The familiarity does not breed contempt, but only adds a piquancy to a book which will delight- both adults and children. • The tale was told by a Vietnamese, Dang Manh Kha, to Ann Nolan Clark (a- well known writer of children’s literature). She has refold it in the traditional metric form, with apposite proverbs -interspersed among the verses: “An evil heart keeps records on the face of its owner”, “What is to be must happen as day. follows after night”. The; story is complemented by graceful illustrations in both black and white and muted colour by Tony Chen. Published by Viking Press ($8.95) this is a charming and beautifully produced picture book, which will probably appeal to an older age group than the usual picture book audience. ‘ -reMargaret. Quigley.