Synopsis
Once upon a time, there were six sisters. They each had their own unique traits – one was pretty, one was musical, one was clever, one was helpful, one was the youngest, and then there was the wild one. Dortchen Wild, the wild one, had been in love with Wilhelm Grimm since she was a child. Despite her strict father, she and Wilhelm secretly worked together to collect magical fairy tales. This is the story behind the famous Grimm Brothers fairy tales.
The Wild Girl Book Review
This book is exceptionally good. Some books earn five stars because they are well-written and intelligent. But there are others that not only impress you with their writing but also capture your imagination and emotions. These books make the characters come alive, leaving you thinking and worrying about them even when you’re not reading. “The Wild Girl” is one such book.
I won this book in a prize draw and wasn’t sure what to expect, even though I had read Kate Forsyth’s previous novel, “Bitter Greens.” I’ve always loved Grimms’ Fairy Tales but knew very little about the people behind them. Like many, I pictured the Brothers Grimm as old, respected scholars, not as young men struggling to get by under foreign occupation. Did you know there were more than just two Brothers Grimm? And they even had a sister. I didn’t know about the Wild family next door, either, and Dora Wild, the heroine of this novel.
You’ll find Dortchen easy to relate to. At twelve, she falls in love with her best friend’s brother, a university student, and thinks he will always see her as a child. Known as the “wild one” in her family, Dortchen is actually a loving and hard-working sister. Her wildness stems from her deep connection with nature, her knowledge of herbal remedies, and her love for the old tales with their touch of magic. Dortchen’s large family, mostly girls in contrast with the mainly-male Grimm family, reminded me of the March family from “Little Women” and the Bennets from “Pride and Prejudice.” They lived during the same era as the Bennets, in the time of the Napoleonic Wars, and just like the March family, they enjoyed spending time with their neighbors. But unlike the Marches, Dortchen and her sisters live under the strict rule of an authoritarian father, who disapproves of the Grimms and becomes increasingly abusive as the story progresses. I found myself deeply sympathizing with Dortchen through her struggles, wishing for her to find a happy ending like in the fairy tales she loves.
Wilhelm Grimm is another lovable character. The kind and handsome boy-next-door who is hard-working and dedicated to his family, Wilhelm is determined to preserve his region’s folk tales despite the French conquest. He’s always kind to Dortchen, even when he struggles with asthma, frequently relying on Dortchen’s herbal remedies, or when the Grimms face recurrent hardships and unemployment. The Grimm family goes through severe hardships under Napoleon’s rule, and Dortchen’s attempts to help them with food and medicine are always risky due to her father’s temper. But through it all, Wilhelm and his brother persist in documenting all the old tales they know. Love begins to flourish between Wilhelm and Dortchen through their shared passion for these stories.
Kate Forsyth masterfully blends her knowledge of fairy tales and history in this novel, painting a vivid picture of life under Napoleonic occupation in Cassel. Dortchen’s life experiences are reflected in the fairy tales she tells, which also give her the strength to endure her difficulties. This book beautifully illustrates why fairy tales are so significant.
Adaptation Recommendation
“The Wild Girl” would be perfect for adaptation. It starts near the end of the story and then returns to the beginning, a technique often used in films. The book is divided into seven sections, each starting with a fairy tale excerpt, making it ideal for a seven-part TV series.
Overall Rating
“The stuff that dreams are made of.”
Romance Rating
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. I have loved none but you.”
