The Heart of Princess Joan

This was the second of three published collections of fairy tales by popular children's author, Mary De Morgan.

[1][2] She perfected her literary style by telling uniquely crafted fairy tales to the children of family and friends, who included the Burne-Jones, the Morrises, and the Kiplings.

[4] James Fowler remarks that “she seems to represent a full flowering of the Victorian fairy-tale genre[…].”[2] The fairy tale opens with a wealthy King and Queen who lived happily.

Even though Prince Michael's love for Joan grew, he was curious and so disguised himself as a beggar in order to discover what was wrong with the Princess; he soon found she was cold-hearted and ruthless.

A fairy of many disguises encouraged Michael to eat enchanted food, but he was never fooled, since he could see who she really was through his piece of glass.

When Michael returned he was mistakenly imprisoned, but as soon as he saw the Princess through the bars of his cell, he repeated the words, and the heart in his hand fluttered into Joan’s chest.

[9] “Ready this day, extra fep., 8 vo., 6s, The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde, and other Stories, By Mary De Morgan.