The Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who

Name: The Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who Kissed and Told
Author: Parker Fillmore

A king's only daughter, renowned for her beauty, is pursued by suitors from far and wide, but she remains uninterested in marriage, preferring her embroidery. Her parents are concerned, especially her mother, who believes courtship is vital. The princess spends her days in a secluded tower, where she encounters a magical pigeon that transforms into a handsome young man. They fall in love, but he warns her not to reveal his identity, or he will be unable to return. As days pass, the princess becomes enamored with the young man, neglecting her embroidery. However, when her parents insist she meet suitors, she confesses her love for the pigeon prince. Her father reluctantly agrees to let her pursue him, but when she reveals his existence, he disappears, leaving her heartbroken. Determined to find him, the princess embarks on a quest, wearing out three pairs of iron shoes and staffs over three years. She eventually decides to build a bath-house, offering free baths to anyone who shares a strange story, hoping to learn about her lost love. A poor girl hears of the princess's plight and discovers a rooster in wooden shoes who leads her to a group of pigeons, one of whom remains enchanted. The girl shares this story with the princess, who realizes it must be her love. They follow the rooster, and upon finding the pigeons, the princess rescues her beloved from his enchantment. The king accepts the young man as a suitable husband for his daughter, and preparations for their wedding commence. The princess's beauty returns as she finds happiness with her true love. The wedding is grand, attended by neighboring kings who regret not marrying her. The princess invites the girl who helped her, revealing that the secret to beauty is happiness.

By Parker Fillmore · First published 1930 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Romance · 4,411 words

First lines

There was once a King who had an only daughter. She was as lovely as a princess ought to be and by the time she reached a marriageable age the fame of her beauty had spread far and wide over all the world. Neighboring kings and even distant ones were already sending envoys to her father's court begging permission to offer their sons as suitors to the Princess's hand. As he had no son of his own the Princess's father was delighted that the day was fast approaching when he might have a son-in-law, and long before even the name of any particular prince was discussed the Princess's mother had planned the wedding down to its last detail.

The Princess alone was uninterested.

What this Textopian page supports

The Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who Kissed and Told is listed on Textopian as a novella by Parker Fillmore, dated 1930 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novella
Author: Parker Fillmore
Date: 1930 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Romance, Children's Literature, Adventure
Length: 4,411 words
Structure: 1 section, 115 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who Kissed and Told by Parker Fillmore
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 Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who Kissed and Told?
How does this novella by Parker Fillmore fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, such as a talking pigeon and enchantments, typical of fairy tales.
Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical transformations and a quest for love, characteristic of the fantasy genre.
Romance — The central plot revolves around the romantic relationship between the Princess and the enchanted prince.
Children's Literature — The simple language and moral lessons make it suitable for a young audience.