I, Coriander

I, Coriander

Company type	Novel
Industry	Publishing
Founded	2005
Founder	Sally Gardner
Products	Historical fantasy novel

I, Coriander is a historical fantasy novel for young adults, authored by Sally Gardner and published in 2005. The narrative is situated in Stuart London during the era of the Puritan Commonwealth, covering the timeline from the execution of Charles I to the Restoration of Charles II. This work received the Gold Award from the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and was also shortlisted for both the British Children's Book of the Year and Stockton Children's Book of the Year. Additionally, it appeared on the longlist for the prestigious Carnegie Medal.

Plot summary

The novel centers on Coriander Hobie, whose father is a prosperous merchant on the Thames, living just prior to the outbreak of the English Civil War. Told through Coriander’s perspective, the story delves into her early years, shaped by her mother’s enigmatic remedies and enchanting fairy stories. She comes into possession of forbidden silver shoes that induce visions and magical disappearances. Following her mother’s demise—which is suggested to be connected to a magical fairy artifact concealed alongside a stuffed alligator—her father remarries Maud Leggs, a rigid Puritan woman who subjects Coriander to harsh treatment.

As political unrest escalates with Cromwell’s ascendancy, Coriander’s father escapes to France to evade arrest, leaving her at the mercy of Maud and a harsh preacher. They enforce severe constraints, including compelling her to take on the Christian name Ann, and subject her to mistreatment. After imprisoning her inside a chest, Coriander is transported to the Fairy realm, where an elderly man reveals that her mother was a Fairy Princess and that her stepmother is in league with Queen Rosemore, who desires to capture Coriander’s mother’s magical shadow.

Years later, back in the mortal world, Coriander manages to flee with assistance from a compassionate tailor and his apprentice but must then save Hester, her stepsister endangered by Maud and the preacher. Disguised as a boy, she infiltrates her former household and overhears Queen Rosemore conspiring with her allies. After rescuing Hester, Coriander resolves to reclaim her mother’s shadow.

Upon returning to the house, she discovers that an enchanted alligator guards this magical shadow. After securing it, she journeys again to the Fairy realm during wintertime and finds Tycho—the fairy prince she loves—transformed into a fox and pursued by giants because he refused an arranged marriage proposed by Rosemore. She cares for him until he temporarily regains human form; he declares his love for her, but she declines his offer to remain there, feeling obligated to return to her father.

In the human world, a year has passed; Hester now has a child while Edmund Bedwell proposes marriage to Coriander. She turns down his offer, still yearning for Tycho. The novel concludes with their reunion during one of Coriander’s walks.