One of John Bauer’s magnificent illustrations for Agneta and the Sea King.

One of my favourite collections of stories is Swedish Folk Tales illustrated by John Bauer, and published most recently by Floris Books in the U.K. Agneta and the Sea King by Helena Nyblom is one of the tales in the book, and is particularly striking as it goes against multiple folkloric conventions. The titular heroine Agnete is largely concerned with her own self-preservation, and there are no starry-eyed princes or persecuted siblings in sight.

The tale focuses on Agneta - the “daughter of the lord of the castle” - who is sitting at the edge of a lake when a merman rises up from the sea and urges her to return to his Kingdom with him. Agneta politely refuses but offers the merman some flowers she is carrying as a parting gift, only for him to grab hold of her when she extends her hand and pull her down with him under the sea. The merman enchants Agneta with a song he plays on his harp, causing her to lose her memory of her life on earth. Agneta remains with the Sea King for eight years and bears him seven sons, but one day she hears the peal of church bells above the water and begs her husband for a chance to go to church. After securing her promise that she will return to him and their children, the Sea King reluctantly takes Agneta back to her world. Upon entering the church, Agneta recognizes her aged father and her memories return to her. The Sea King appears at the threshold of the church to reclaim Agneta, but she refuses to as much as look at him, remaining steadfast in prayer. Agneta’s devotion to God repels the Sea King, and she is joyfully reunited with her father, never to return to the Kingdom under the sea.

Nyblom’s version of the tale is heavily embellished and filled with literary flourishes, and is based on earlier sources that are difficult to trace. The direct source for the tale appears to be a Danish ballad, Agnete and the Merman (Agnete og Havmanden). The ballad essentially follows the same storyline, one of the few notable differences being that the Agnete is a peasant girl rather than a noble woman. I have been unable to find any information about how far the ballad’s provenance stretches back, however Hans Christian Andersen self-published a dramatic poem based on Agnete and the Merman in 1833, indicating it must have been in circulation prior to that date.

Regardless of its origins, Agneta and the Sea King is the most startling narrative in Swedish Folk Tales. While heartless parents are commonplace in fairy tales and folklore, they are for the most part villains. Heroes and heroines who are suspected of neglecting their children in some way are generally vindicated. Despite being the heroine in her tale, Agneta abandons her children for the sake of her freedom, telling the Sea King “they shall wait in vain” for her return. While callous when taken out of context, this behaviour possesses an unusual level of psychological realism when considered in relation to the events that lead up to the tale’s climax.

Agneta is kidnapped, has her memories taken from her and gives birth to seven of her captor’s children in quick succession. While happy and contented while in ignorance of the circumstances that led to her entering the Sea King’s kingdom, Agneta rejects her family utterly upon realizing what has happened to her. Her face “white with pain” Agneta tells the Sea King “none of you will make me return” in a moment that far from being callous is touching due to its strength of feeling. Agneta derives the strength she requires to leave her children from God, however the choice to do so is hers alone.

Agneta and the Sea King is a weird, oddly affecting story, and while (as told by Helena Nyblom, at least) it is a tale intended for children it has unsettling implications.

If anyone here has any further knowledge of this story or its origins, I would welcome contact!

One of the many illustrations from The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Are you looking for inspired, last minute ideas for art-orientated friends? If you have a loved one in mind who’s a fan of fairy tales, art or illustration, check out the list below which should provide you with some inspiration for those last minute buys.

All of the books below are currently in print, and should be available through most online retailers.

5.) The Goblins of Labyrinth, by Brian Froud & Terry Jones

This witty, eccentric and vividly realized book is a must have for anyone who’s a fan of the work of Brian Froud or the film Labyrinth. While it has no direct connection to the plot of the film, this book is packed with full-colour sketches of the goblins that populate the world it is set in. Offering insightful (and entirely bonkers) anecdotes on the history of the goblin species is Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame.)

The 20th anniversary edition features splash pages of concept art produced by Froud to inspire the film-makers, offering glimpses at the early incarnations of Sarah, Hoggle and Sir Didymus. Froud also offers his memories of how the film came about, which make for fascinating reading. Look out for some particularly intriguing anecdotes about David Bowie!

4.) Paradise Lost, by John Milton & Gustave Dore

In my opinion, Dore’s illustrations for John Milton’s Paradise Lost represent his best work. Dore worked almost exclusively in black and white engravings, yet managed to evoke strange, fantastic worlds through his striking use of contrast. Milton’s illustrations for Paradise Lost vividly illuminate the text, presenting shining clusters of angels on one page and a petulant, shadow-wreathed Lucifer the next.

If anyone has been set Paradise Lost as a study-text, I recommend that you purchase them an edition featuring Dore’s illustrations, which inspire a deep sense of awe and leave you amazed that you were ever bored by the text itself.

3.) The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen, by Maria Tatar

This fascinating (and unusually eclectic) selection of Hans Christian Andersen’s tales is given an edge by folklorist Maria Tatar’s annotations, which take the form of notes placed in the borders alongside the main text. Offering looks into the real world events that informed certain details of the stories as well as looking at the literary sources that inspired their author, this volume makes old tales seem fresh again. The annotations encourage you to think actively about the text, and are especially useful when considering some of the more melancholy, grim stories in the collection such as The Shadow and The Story of a Mother.

This book is illustrated in full colour, and features work by the great masters of the golden age of illustration, Edmund Dulac and Arthur Rackham.

2.) The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick

Inspired by the experience of watching Martin Scorcese’s stunning film adaptation (simply named Hugo), I sought out the book it was based on – The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It is easy to see why the book made it to the silver screen as it was remarkably cinematic to begin with, relying equally on images and text to convey its story. Neither a graphic novel nor a traditional storybook, The Invention of Hugo Cabret draws you into its compelling, strangely-enchanted world of mechanical robots, cast-off orphans and flickering screens.

At its heart this book is about the enduring power of images – particularly moving ones – and it supports this perfectly through its format.

1.) Arthur Rackham, A Life With Illustration, by James Hamilton

This fascinating book is a remarkable achievement for its author James Hamilton, as it is the perfect homage to Arthur Rackham’s life and work. Combining biographical details with information on the techniques that went into creating his wondrous, delicate illustrations, this is the definitive book dedicated to Arthur Rackham’s life and work. Reading this book filled me with renewed appreciation for Rackham, for learning how he created his drawings only added to my admiration of him. This volume features hundreds of beautiful drawings by Rackham, ranging from black and white preparatory sketches to finished pieces in full colour.

This is the ideal book for any fan of illustration, and reveals new insights into the strength of Rackham’s imagination with every page.