#138 Handmade Husbands

Content Warning: Discussions of a Sexual Nature and Innuendo

Episode Description: #138 Handmade Husbands

In this episode, we discuss the folkloresque nature of The Wicker Husband by Ursala Wills and the soon to be released movie, Wicker, based on the story. The Wicker Husband is a literary fairy tale that reminded Katrina of the style of Oscar Wilde, who used fairy talesque stories to dig into deeper social issues. But for this episode, Geoff and Katrina focus on a subcategory for the ATU type 425, Animal Bridegrooms, Search for Lost Husbands. Some of the tales in this category include the motif of a woman making a husband for herself out of various materials. Once he’s stolen away, it becomes clear why these tales are included in the “Search for Lost Husbands”. Geoff tells us a tale from West Virginia, called “The Dough Prince” and then Katrina drags us back into The Tale of Tale by Giambattista Basile with “Pretty as a Picture” or “Pintosmalto”.

Stories Told:

The Dough Prince found in Green Hills of Magic: West Virginia Folktales from Europe by Ruth Ann Musick

“Pretty as a Picture” or “Pintosmalto” found in The Tale of Tales by Giambattista Basile

Books and Essays Cited:

The Wicker Husband by Ursala Wills

Morning Glory Milking Farm by C. M. Nascosta

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

Other Episodes Mentioned:

#77 The Nightingales(s)| Oscar Wilde and Hans Christian Andersen

#14 Cupid and Psyche/ East of the Sun, West of the Moon

#27 Beauty and the Beast

#93 The Story of Hedgy

#10 Russian Winter Fairy Tales

#4 Momotaro or the Story of the Son of a Peach

#94 and #95 Tale of Tales Part 1 & Part 2