"On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me: twelve lords a-leaping, eleven ladies dancing, ten drummers drumming..." Continue reading...
Set in the magical world of medieval romanceèhome to as many noble knights as there are talesèthis enchanting collection of stories takes the verses of the familiar holiday carol and transforms each one into a tale of fantasy, adventure and love.
Twelve handsome knights are imprisoned by a lady, and eleven ugly ladies are set free by a knight. Brothers are destroyed by love, and love is endangered by brothers. This clever anthology explores love in its many facets and from many different viewpoints; from the young maid-in-waiting who thinks she can secure a knight's love with magical embroidery, to the two devoted lovers fleeing destiny as doves, to the angry husband who becomes embroiled in a never-ending game of chess.
First love, lost love, revelations and misunderstandings, fiery passion and affection grown cold: all can be found here in a kaleidoscope of intertwining narratives, and a story for every season.
Elizabeth Hopkinson comes from Bradford, West Yorkshire (UK), home of the Bronte sisters and the Cottingley fairies. She studied English at Leeds University, where she was first introduced to medieval literature, and has loved it ever since. Her fantasy fiction has appeared in Interzone, Strange Horizons, Byzarium, EOTU and Fables, and another story, There's Only One Dakon the Mighty, is shortly due to appear in Fantasist Enterprises' humorous anthology, Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy. Her story, A Short History of the Dream Library, won the James White Award in 2005. Find out more »