Hush by Donna Jo Napoli is a young adult novel inspired by the Icelandic Saga of the People of Laxardal. Napoli creates an intricate story from a single line that reveals the character to be an Irish princess. The resulting story of princess Melkorka is vividly imagined, well-researched, and beautifully written
Set in early medieval times, around the year 900, Melkorka’s father is looking for revenge over the Norse because a Norse boy cut off his son’s hand. He makes plans in the case things go should go wrong, by sending his two daughters away. It’s ironic that instead of safety the two girls are captured by wandering slave traders. Melkorka doesn’t want her captors to know she is royal, so she chooses not to speak.
“You are right to keep your voice to yourself, Aist,” she says into my ear. “Hush. You’re the one who started this silence–you have to keep it up. Or you lose yourself. He’ll just snuff you out.” She makes a puff of hot air that warms my brain. “Like that, like a lamp flame. A slave life counts for nothing unless the slave finds a trick. You’ve found yours. Stick to it. Hush.”
I don’t understand, But I will hold my tongue. The last person who told me to hush was Mother.
The story is told in Melkorka’s voice, giving a firsthand view of her perceptions, feelings, confusion, and grief — and of her developing wisdom in the face of horrendous circumstances that lead her into a life completely unlike the one she expected as the daughter of an Irish king and queen.
As a spoiled princess, Melkorka held much contempt for slaves. The Abbott preaches in the cathedral that the practice of slavery should be banned, but Melkorka’s father insists that slaves are necessary to the Irish way of life. We learn that her brother, whose hand was cut, is opposed to slavery by his comments such as, “civilized people don’t own other people.”
Melkorka believes that most slaves are stupid, or they would not be slaves in the first place. She does not consider that they are people in their own right, no different from herself
Historically, it’s a fascinating description of the time and people and the conflict between the Vikings and everyone else. The idea that this people just came in and took whomever they wanted–men, women, and especially children–and sold them as slaves is shocking.
She doesn’t speak during her entire ordeal and this failure, or refusal, to communicate is of great interest to her captors.
“I have very little power. But I have no doubt anymore: What power I have comes from my silence.”
This is a mature story. Although told delicately and with little graphic detail, it is apparent that the crew misuses some of the women and that Melkorka becomes a man’s mistress. Napoli does not cheapen her tail but wrapping up the details or providing an unrealistic happy ending. It was not a happy book, but I cannot help my recommend it for its masterful writing and new twist to the issue of slavery.
GENRE: Historical Fiction
Tags: Conduct of Life, Ireland, Mutism, Princesses, Seafaing Life, Slavery, Vikings
