The Sea Maid single work   children's fiction   children's  
Issue Details: First known date: 1955... 1955 The Sea Maid
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

This story begins by relating the Hans Christian Andersen tale of the little mermaid, and then tells a 'modern-day' story about Timmy, who is holidaying at the seaside. Timmy, a boy scout, helps an old lady in a wheelchair across the road, and then spends time every day taking her for walks. The lady then tells Timmy that she is actually a sea maid, who was banished to dry land after refusing to marry the sea prince her parents had chosen for her. By spending his holiday time with her, Timmy has given up 'something precious' for her sake, and thus ended her banishment and allowed her to return to the ocean.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Animal Talk and Other Stories for Boys and Girls Neville Smith , Melbourne : Cheshire , 1955 Z1500460 1955 selected work children's fiction children's 'Here are twenty-five stories that have escaped from life - that is, the kind of life that most normal Australian boys and girls lead. In them, everyday life become involved with strange things and happenings. Magic comes creeping in when least expected; fairies and sprites appear; animals and objects indulge in conversations; dreams take the oddest turns. But, though there may be a friendly lion in a story, or a sea maid, or a flame fairy who can only speak in rhyme, in every case the central person is a normal Australian girl or boy.' (Inside dust jacket) Melbourne : Cheshire , 1955 pg. 41-44
Last amended 21 Aug 2008 13:03:03
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