The Hind of the Forest
A beloved queen, troubled by her inability to bear an heir, visits a magical fountain where a crayfish transforms into a fairy and promises her a daughter, Desiree, if she follows her to a hidden fairy palace. The queen receives gifts and blessings for her child, but a vengeful fairy curses Desiree, warning that she must not see daylight until her fifteenth birthday. To protect her, the queen builds a tower for Desiree's seclusion. As the princess grows, a prince falls in love with her portrait, leading to a marriage proposal. However, Desiree's maids conspire to reveal her to the world before the deadline, resulting in her transformation into a white hind. Desiree flees into the forest, where she encounters the prince, who unknowingly pursues her. Despite their connection, she cannot reveal her true identity. With the help of a fairy, Desiree is granted the ability to become human at night. Eventually, the prince discovers her true form, and their love triumphs over the enchantment. The fairy lifts the curse, allowing them to marry and live happily, while the treacherous maids face banishment. The tale concludes with the celebration of their union and the enduring legacy of their story.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1854 · Genre: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Children's Literature · 7,260 words
First lines
A beautiful queen, whose subjects adored her, and whose husband thought her the best woman in the world, had but one sorrow, which was equally a sorrow both to the king and the country -- she brought him no heir to the throne. She, at last, grew so melancholy, that she was ordered for her health to drink the medicinal waters that were found in a celebrated wood; and one day, sitting beside one of these fountains, which fell into a marble and porphyry basin, she sent all her ladies away, that she might the better weep and lament unobserved.
What this Textopian page supports
The Hind of the Forest is listed on Textopian as a novella by Dinah Mulock, dated 1854 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: 1854 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure, Folklore
- Length: 7,260 words
- Structure: 1 section, 94 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hind of the Forest by Dinah Mulock
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Hind of the Forest?
- How does this novella by Dinah Mulock fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tales first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Sleipner Late Thurinda by Rudyard Kipling
- The Witch Deer by Charles Fletcher Lummis
- The Heart Of The Wild by S. L. Bensusan
- The Invisible Prince by Dinah Mulock
- The Boy And Snake by Charles Lamb
- The Magical Chance by Dallas Lore Sharp
Genres
- Fairy Tales — The book is a narrative involving magical forces and beings and captures elements of enchantment common in fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The story includes fantasy elements such as a mystical deer character, highlighting the use of imagination and the exploration of unconventional narrative elements.
- Children's Literature — The book is written with simple language and an imaginative plot making it suitable for children.
- Adventure — The characters embark on a journey and face various challenges, which is typical of adventure stories.
Tags
nature · forest · wildlife · adventure · myth · fantasy · animals · friendship · survival · exploration · mystery · coming of age