Prince Cherry by Dinah Mulock (1839)
A benevolent king saves a wounded rabbit, which turns out to be the fairy Candide. She promises to befriend his son, Prince Cherry, but can only offer guidance, not goodness. After the king's death, Cherry receives a magical ring that pricks him when he misbehaves. Initially, he is a good prince, but he succumbs to bad temper and cruelty, leading him to discard the ring. His actions spiral into tyranny, culminating in his transformation into a monstrous creature by Candide as punishment for his misdeeds. Captured by bear hunters, he reflects on his past and begins to show kindness, eventually transforming back into a dog after saving his keeper from a tiger. Despite his new form, he longs for his lost love, Zelia. After several trials, including witnessing the suffering of others, he is transformed into a white pigeon and eventually finds Zelia again. Their mutual love breaks the enchantment, restoring him to his human form. Candide reveals herself as a hermit and returns Cherry to his rightful place as king, where he rules justly alongside Zelia, never again pricked by the ring, symbolizing his moral integrity.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1839 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Children's Literature · 3,931 words
First lines
LONG ago there lived a monarch, who was such a very, honest man that his subjects entitled him the Good King. One day, when he was out hunting, a little white rabbit, which had been half-killed by his hounds, leaped right into his majesty's arms. Said he, caressing it: "This poor creature has put itself under my protection, and I will allow no one to injure it. " So he carried it to his palace, had prepared for it a neat little rabbit-hutch, with abundance of the daintiest food, such as rabbits love, and there he left it.
What this Textopian page supports
Prince Cherry is listed on Textopian as a novella by Dinah Mulock, dated 1839 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Dinah Mulock
- Date: 1839 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Children's Literature
- Length: 3,931 words
- Structure: 1 section, 51 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Prince Cherry by Dinah Mulock
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Fantasy — The book involves a story set in a fantastical kingdom with a prince as the main character. Magical items and beings feature prominently in the story.
- Fairy Tale — The book contains elements typical of fairy tales: magical creatures, miracles, and moral lessons.
- Children's Literature — The book's simple language, moral lessons, and magical elements appeal to young readers. The book is often included in children literature collections.
Tags
fairy tale · fantasy · adventure · royalty · magic · friendship · courage · self-discovery · morality · imagination · childhood · growth