King Midas and the Golden Touch » (Reprint)

Charlotte Craft studied comparative literature at Columbia University in New York. After graduating, she traveled to Japan, where she worked as an interpreter and photographer. She now lives in Scotland with her family. The New York Times complimented her first book, Cupid and Psyche, for its "clear, simple text" and noted that the book a "excels in conveying the mythology."

In addition to Cupid and Psyche, she is also the illustrator of Marianna Mayer's Pegasus, Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave, and The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Ms. Craft lives in Connecticut.

King Midas is a goodman, and he is adevoted father to hisdaughter, Aurelia. Yet Midasknows no music sweeter than therattling of golden coins, and themore gold he gathers, the morehe desires. When a mysteriousstranger offers to grant the kinga single wish as a reward for akindness, Midas does not hesi-tate: He wishes that all hetouches would turn to gold. Butall too soon, he learns that whatat first seems a blessing can alsobecome a curse.

The legendary man with the magic touch comes alive as a remarkably complex figure in this breathtaking new vision of perhaps the most universal of all Greek myths. Kinuko Y. Craft's radiant paintings glow with human drama, natural beauty, and golden splendor.

King Midas is not a cruel man, but his passion for gold surpasses all else, save his love for his daughter. If only everything he touched would turn to gold! When Midas is granted that single wish, he rejoices — until he nearly loses his beloved child to his greed. Here is a skillfully retold story of extraordinary resonance and wisdom, with a message no reader will soon forget. Radiant paintings glow with luxurious, golden, splendor.

Publishers Weekly

The mother-daughter duo that produced Cupid and Psyche sumptuously interprets a familiar Greek myth. A note at the beginning explains that the text is inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's retelling, and it is structured like a fairy tale. Midas's kindness to a stranger earns him his ill-fated wish; Midas's love for his daughter inspires his remorse; and in the end, he is magically redeemed. The author writes fluidly and capaciously, invoking castle rose gardens and secret chambers of treasure. The lavish oil-over-watercolor paintings, said to be set in the Middle Ages, make overtures to the Renaissance in their lush compositional style and the characters' costumes. As Kinuko Craft's admirers will expect, her attention to detail is unflagging: embroidered, jeweled clothes almost seem to rustle, and the palace's columns, stairways and arches form dizzying arcades. At first her gold palette dazzles, but as the insidious gilt trail extinguishes the vibrant range of colors, the dark side of Midas's supposed good fortune is manifested as clearly in the pictures as in the text. A regal treatment. Ages 5-up. (Apr.)