'That Very Mab'

"That Very Mab" by May Kendall and Andrew Lang is a fantasy novel written in the late 19th century. The story introduces Queen Mab, a fairy who transcends time and space, juxtaposing her whimsical existence against the backdrop of societal changes and moral dilemmas in both Polynesia and England. Throughout the narrative, Mab's innocence is highlighted as she grapples with the complexities of modern civilization, brimming with a blend of fairy tale elements and satirical commentary on contemporary life. The opening of the novel establishes a rich, enchanting scene as Queen Mab is portrayed on a magical journey from her home in the Sacred Island to the shores of Samoa, where she experiences the joy of fairy revelry. However, her amusement is short-lived; the arrival of missionaries disrupts the idyllic landscape, leading her to leave for England, representing a world vastly changed and burdened by modernity. Once she arrives in Britain, the contrast becomes stark as she observes the disillusionment and loss of innocence prevalent within human society. Her interactions with various characters, including a professor and a child, set the stage for her bewildering immersion into the complexities of humanity, revealing both the beauty and the often-sad realities of the world she left behind, and thus foreshadowing her ongoing struggle to reconcile her fairy nature with the harshness of modern life.