The Winter's Tale by Edith Nesbit
Leontes, King of Sicily, wrongly suspects his wife Hermione of loving his old friend Polixenes, King of Bohemia, who is visiting him. Leontes orders his lord Camillo to poison Polixenes, but Camillo warns Polixenes instead, and both flee to Bohemia, where Camillo remains as Polixenes' counselor. Leontes imprisons Hermione, and their son dies of grief at his mother's treatment. In prison, Hermione bears a daughter. Her friend Paulina brings the baby to Leontes hoping to soften him, but he refuses to look at it and orders Paulina's husband to abandon it in a desolate place. Hermione is tried for treason; the Oracle of Apollo declares her innocent, Polixenes blameless, Camillo true, and Leontes a jealous tyrant, adding the King shall lack an heir unless the lost one is found. Told the Prince is dead, Hermione collapses, and Paulina reports her dead too. Leontes repents in lasting grief. Paulina's husband leaves the baby, named Perdita, with jewels and a paper on the coast, then is killed by a bear. A shepherd finds and raises her. Grown up, Perdita is loved by Prince Florizel, who visits her disguised as "Doricles." Polixenes, learning of this, disguises himself with Camillo and attends a sheepshearing feast, where he admires Perdita without knowing her birth. When Florizel declares his betrothal, Polixenes reveals himself, forbids the match, and threatens Perdita and the shepherd. Camillo, wishing to return to Sicily, urges the young couple and the shepherd to seek Leontes' protection, and they sail there with Perdita's jewels and the paper. Leontes welcomes them kindly, struck by Perdita's resemblance to Hermione. The shepherd's tale and tokens prove Perdita is Leontes' lost daughter; he rejoices, and Polixenes, having followed to stop the marriage, now consents to it. Still grieving Hermione, Leontes is taken by Paulina to view a statue of the dead Queen in her house. The statue appears to age and seems almost alive; when Paulina says she can make it move, Leontes consents, and it descends and embraces him—it is Hermione herself, kept hidden by Paulina until Perdita was found. Mother and daughter are reunited, Hermione forgives Leontes, and Florizel and Perdita marry and live happily.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1907 · Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama · 2,280 words
First lines
Leontes was the King of Sicily, and his dearest friend was Polixenes, King of Bohemia. They had been brought up together, and only separated when they reached man's estate and each had to go and rule over his kingdom. After many years, when each was married and had a son, Polixenes came to stay with Leontes in Sicily.
Similar titles
- The Winters Tale by William Shakespeare
- Beauty And The Beast by Marie Leprince De Beaumont
- Beauty And The Beast by Dinah Mulock
- The Winters Tale by Charles Lamb
- The Rose And The Ring by William Makepeace Thackeray
- Graciosa And Percinet by Dinah Mulock
Genres
- Romance — The narrative centers on romantic love across two generations: Florizel and Perdita's courtship and marriage, and the passionate reunion of Leontes and Hermione, with their reconciliation presented as 'like a new and beautiful marriage.'
- Comedy — Despite tragic elements in the opening, the work follows comedic structure with a happy resolution featuring multiple marriages, family reunions, and the restoration of order and joy, characteristic of tragicomedy.
- Drama — Complex emotional arcs drive the narrative: jealousy, false accusations, grief, remorse, and redemption, with characters undergoing significant psychological and moral transformations.
- Fairy Tale — The plot features archetypal fairy tale elements: an abandoned foundling child raised by humble folk, discovery of noble parentage through tokens and jewels, and magical revelation and restoration.
Tags
jealousy · false accusation · infidelity · wronged innocence · redemption · forgiveness · repentance · lost child · foundling · family reunion · romance · disguise
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The Winter's Tale is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1907 CE.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Comedy, Drama, Fairy Tale, Fantasy
- Length: 2,280 words
- Structure: 1 section, 45 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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