영어로 읽는 고전 _ 앤드류 랭의 프리지오 왕자
"프리지오 왕자" (앤드류 랭 저)는 19세기 후반에 쓰여진 판타지 소설입니다. 이야기는 지나치게 영리한 성격으로 묘사되어 주변 사람들로부터 감탄과 경멸을 동시에 받는 프리지오 왕자를 중심으로 전개됩니다. 그가 왕실의 의무와 가족의 기대를 헤쳐나가면서, 마법 생물과 동화적 요소가 등장하는 기발한 모험에 휘말리게 됩니다.
이야기의 시작에서, 우리는 그로그니오 왕과 자자 왕비가 자녀를 갈망하는 판토우플리아라는 고대 왕국을 소개받습니다. 마침내 그들이 아들 프리지오를 얻었을 때, 왕비가 요정들을 믿지 않았기 때문에 보통 왕실의 아이들을 축복하는 요정들이 세례식에 초대받지 못했습니다. 그 결과, 프리지오는 믿을 수 없을 만큼 영리하게 자라지만 자신의 아버지를 포함한 많은 이들로부터 오해받고 미움을 받습니다.
왕자는 결국 파이어드레이크와 같은 환상적인 생물들과의 전투를 포함한 시련에 직면하면서, 동시에 자신의 지성과 왕실 가족의 기대가 가져오는 결과들을 다루게 됩니다. 이 서사는 영리함, 믿음의 본질, 그리고 위대함에 걸맞게 살아가는 것의 어려움이라는 주제들을 설정하며, 매력과 유머로 독자들을 사로잡습니다.
Classics Read in English _ Prince Prigio by Andrew Lang
"Prince Prigio" by Andrew Lang is a fantasy novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around the titular character, Prince Prigio, who is portrayed as excessively clever, leading to both admiration and disdain from those around him. As he navigates his royal duties and the expectations of his family, he becomes embroiled in whimsical adventures that involve magical creatures and fairy tale elements. At the start of the tale, we are introduced to an ancient kingdom called Pantouflia, where King Grognio and Queen Zaza desire a child. When they finally have a son, Prigio, the fairies who usually bless royal children were not invited to the christening due to the queen's disbelief in them. As a result, Prigio grows up incredibly intelligent but is misunderstood and disliked by many, including his own father. The prince eventually faces trials including battles with fantastical creatures like the Firedrake, while dealing with the repercussions of his intellect and the royal family's expectations. The narrative sets up themes of cleverness, the nature of belief, and the challenges of living up to greatness, captivating readers with its charm and humor.
Among the contents
ONCE upon a time there reigned in Pantouflia a king and a queen. With almost everything else to make them happy, they wanted one thing: they had no children. This vexed the king even more than the queen, who was very clever and learned, and who had hated dolls when she was a child. However, she too, in spite of all the books she read and all the pictures she painted, would have been glad enough to be the mother of a little prince. The king was anxious to consult the fairies, but the queen would not hear of such a thing. She did not believe in fairies: she said that they had never existed; and that she maintained, though The History of the Royal Family was full of chapters about nothing else.
Well, at long and at last they had a little boy, who was generally regarded as the finest baby that had ever been seen. Even her majesty herself remarked that, though she could never believe all the courtiers told her, yet he certainly was a fine child?a very fine child.
