Away with the Fairies
Today, award-winning author Jane Yolen passed away at the age of 87. She was a prolific writer who created beloved children’s books, novels, short stories, and more. One of the most familiar of her novels to most readers would probably be The Devil’s Arithmetic, which has been guiding students into a deeper understanding of the Holocaust for decades. Her Caldecott-Award-winning picture book Owl Moon continues to be one of her most beloved storybooks, one that was very popular with my daughter when she was little.
Some of her best work, I always thought, was with folklore and fairytales. Snow in Summer, her take on both Snow White and Appalachian culture, was remarkable. But my all-time favorite of her works would have to be Tam Lin, her re-telling of a Scottish ballad that I loved so much that, over 20 years ago, I wanted to incorporate it into my storytelling repertoire. I had adored the book when I was in high school and college, treasuring it as part of my collection of storybooks. Its depiction of the fey is one that has guided my teaching about them in literature for decades. When I began appearing as a storyteller, I included many of my own original family stories as well as my own versions of folktales. Although the storytelling I did in high school competition was always focused on published stories, as I started to hang out my shingle as a storyteller in the 1990s, I wanted to tell more original pieces than interpretations of written works. When I tell now, I still I tell relatively few stories by other authors. Tam Lin, by Jane Yolen, however, was one I wanted to include, particularly for events around Halloween or centering on Scots-Irish culture. But before I memorized the story and performed it for an audience, I wanted to get permission from Jane Yolen. I was a little nervous about contacting her, afraid she’d say no, afraid she’d ask for a pile of money, afraid she’d just ignore me. But she didn’t. We were still back in the old days of correspondence then, and I truly wish I still had a copy of the note she sent me. I thought perhaps it might be in the copy of Tam Lin here on my shelf, but it may be in a folder at the college in my office, with my materials from the last time I taught storytelling several years ago, since I always explained to students the value of getting permission from authors.
I sincerely hope I can find it, as it was such a kind, generous note, graciously allowing me permission to tell the story, including when I was being compensated, as long as I credited her as the author of that version and showed the book if suitable. I have told Tam Lin countless times over the years, and although I hope to keep telling it, it will be a little sadder now. I’ve always enjoyed thinking about Jane Yolen, still tossing lovely stories out into the world, so now it will be a different experience.
I am deeply thankful for this story and for the marvelous gift of Jane Yolen and the light she brought into the world. Even the fey couldn’t hold a candle to the magic she crafted on the page.