There’s just something about a castle. It’s the quintessential setting. Throw a castle into almost any story and you have instant history, mystery and intrigue. They are full of shadows, forgotten corners and most definitely hidden secrets. I’ve heard it said that the setting of a book can become as much a character as the people in a novel, but I think it’s almost obligatory with a castle—and I’ll also include big houses for the purpose of this discussion.
For me, it started with Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. The fairy tale castle anchored in my mind the splendor, the exclusivity and the absolute “draw” of a castle.
One of the most memorable “dwelling characters” for me, is the large estate house in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden. Also, Miss Minchin’s School for girls—how many attic rooms were there? And the Indian Gentleman’s home next door—accessible by roof, within the pages of The Little Princess.
The White Witch’s ice castle in Narnia, filled with stone statues.
What about Hogwart’s? There’s a living, breathing building for you. And who could forget Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights? Just this week, I’ve been wandering the halls within Milderhurst, found in the new novel, The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. This castle seems to almost breathe memories even as it crumbles. Truly wonderful and I haven’t finished the book yet!
What’s your favorite castle memory?
No comments:
Post a Comment