The Invisible Prince by Dinah Mulock

Name: The Invisible Prince
Author: Dinah Mulock

A king and queen have a deformed son, Furibon, whom the queen adores despite his flaws. The king appoints a handsome and talented prince, Leander, as Furibon's governor. Jealous of Leander's charm, Furibon plots against him, leading to a series of confrontations. During a hunting trip, Leander saves Furibon from a lion, but Furibon's hatred grows. Leander, seeking to escape Furibon's malice, encounters a snake that turns out to be a fairy named Gentilla. She grants him the ability to become invisible and provides him with magical roses that offer wealth, health, and insight into loyalty. Leander uses his powers to help those in distress, thwarting a forced marriage and rescuing a young girl from ruffians. He eventually finds himself in the Island of Calm Delights, where he falls in love with a princess who has sworn off men. Disguised as a statue, he captures her attention, leading to a series of misunderstandings and romantic tension. Furibon, now a king, attempts to invade the island, but Leander defeats him with the help of Gentilla, who ultimately blesses their union. The story concludes with Leander and the princess happily married, living in peace and prosperity, with Gentilla as their ally.

By Dinah Mulock · First published 1890 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance · 11,260 words

First lines

THERE were a king and queen who were dotingly fond of their only son, notwithstanding that he was equally deformed in mind and person. The king was quite sensible of the evil disposition of his son, but the queen in her excessive fondness saw no fault whatever in her dear Furibon, as he was named. The surest way to win her favor was to praise Furibon for charms he did not possess. When he came of age to have a governor, the king made choice of a prince who had an ancient right to the crown, but was not able to support it. This prince had a son, named Leander, handsome, accomplished, amiable -- in every respect the opposite of Prince Furibon. The two were frequently together, which only made the deformed prince more repulsive.

What this Textopian page supports

The Invisible Prince is listed on Textopian as a novella by Dinah Mulock, dated 1890 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: 1890 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, Children's literature, Fairy Tale
Length: 11,260 words
Structure: 1 section, 139 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Invisible Prince?
How does this novella by Dinah Mulock fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The main character is an invisible prince, which is an element of supernatural and magical realism, typical of fantasy stories.
Adventure — There are elements of adventure as the prince undertakes a journey and faces difficult situations and challenges.
Romance — The story includes a romantic subplot involving the invisible prince falling in love with a princess.
Children's literature — The overall tone, simplicity of language, and narrative style suggest that it is suitable for children.