Requiem for a Princess
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
Requiem for a Princess is a children's novel published in 1967, written by Ruth M. Arthur with illustrations by Margery Gill and released through Atheneum Books. The story is set in Cornwall, England, and addresses themes of adoption against the historical context of the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604).
Summary
The narrative follows an English girl aspiring to be a concert pianist who undergoes emotional distress after learning she is adopted. As her health declines, she is sent to stay with family friends along the Cornish coast. Through a series of time slip experiences, she inhabits the life of a young princess from 1589 to 1602, gaining insight that helps her overcome her identity struggles and rebuild her self-assurance.
Plot
Willow Penelope Forrester, the daughter of sheep farmers, discovers her aptitude for piano. Her instructor suggests she join a program in Germany and assigns Ravel's Pavane for a Dead Infanta for practice; however, Willow finds it difficult due to chilblains. Facing opposition from her parents regarding her musical goals, Willow becomes ill at school. During an argument, another student reveals that Willow was adopted, intensifying her confusion and prolonging her sickness.
To aid her recovery, Willow's mother takes her to Penliss, a private hotel in Cornwall that includes an Elizabethan wing. There, Willow encounters a Velasquez painting of Isabel, a Spanish princess adopted by the Tresilian family who died young. Captivated, Willow researches Isabel’s past and finds a memorial stone stating she supposedly drowned at age 17 in 1602.
In Penliss’s garden, Willow discovers the 'Spanish' Garden and unearths Isabel's pendant buried there. Keeping this secret, she befriends Amelie, the housekeeper who offers her a posset before bedtime. That night, Willow experiences vivid dreams as Isabel: initially living contentedly in Spain, then held captive on a ship ablaze during the Anglo-Spanish war, and finally adapting to life at Penliss amid local hostility.
Through these dreams, Willow forms a strong connection with Isabel’s life—exploring tin mines and meeting Richard. Back in the present, she strives to mend her relationship with her parents, recognizing similarities between her gratitude toward them and Isabel’s dependence on Cornelius. Rosamund supports Willow by taking her to Land's End and recounting how Cornelius died as tensions between England and Spain escalated, placing Isabel in danger.
During her last week at Penliss, Willow travels with Rosamund and Caspar to the Isles of Scilly, uncovering the full story of Isabel and fulfilling her final wishes. Returning home revitalized, Willow accepts her identity and family with optimism.
Characters
- Willow Penelope Forrester – main character and narrator
- Willow's Father – sheep farmer and former naval serviceman
- Willow's Mother – compassionate but suffers from migraines
- Miss Carpenter – Willow's piano instructor
- Rosamund Tresilian – proprietor of Penliss in Cornwall
- Amelie – Penliss housekeeper from Brittany
- Jake – Amelie's grandson and handyman at Penliss
- Isabel de Calverados – Spanish princess whose portrait hangs at Penliss
- Anthony Tresilian – sailor who rescued Isabel from pirates
- Cornelius Tresilian, Esquire – Anthony’s father who adopted Isabel
- Celestine – Isabel’s nurse from Brittany
- Richard Redhead – tin miner courting Isabel
- Caspar Tresilian – Rosamund’s young cousin visiting from Australia
Time slip
During her time at Penliss, Willow experiences dreams that transport her back to 16th-century Spain, where she witnesses events through Isabel's perspective. This temporal shift provides Willow with insight into her own adoption difficulties by drawing parallels to Isabel’s more severe circumstances.
Awards
Requiem for a Princess earned recognition from the Library of Congress Children's Literature Center as a distinguished book in the 'Stories for Older Boys and Girls' category in 1967.
Reception
The story aids Willow in coming to terms with her personal challenges by exploring Isabel’s life. It was selected by the Junior Literary Guild and received acclaim as appropriate reading material for adolescents. Some critiques mention a lack of immediacy, pointing out that emotions are narrated rather than vividly depicted. Readers such as Sarah Debraski reflect on cherished childhood experiences with the book and appreciate its fundamental narrative despite some outdated aspects. Frances Curry, a librarian at the Windsor Star, characterizes Willow’s summer as an 'exciting and sometimes eerie adventure.'