The Divine Child and the Hero
Inner Meaning in Children's Literature
by Dr. Claudio Naranjo
Preface by P.L. Travers
Illustrated by Della Heywood.
BK080
$15.95
Trade Paperback
This book is an extended meditation on children's literature. Dr. Naranjo highlights the Hero who slays dragons and the Child who needs only to "be," not to "do." He discusses children's classics including Charlotte's Web, The Hobbit, The Little Prince, and others. Dr. Naranjo places these children's classics in the context of the great archetypes of world literature. In a special appendix to the Gateways edition, the author interviews Lloyd Alexander, author of The Book of Three and a fiction series treasured by young readers, on the sources of his inspiration. Published previously only in Spanish, this book will be of special interest to teachers, counselors, parents of young children, students of world literature, as well as readers of Dr. Naranjo's previous books on psychology and spirituality, the enneagram and personal transformation. "In writing this book, Claudio Naranjo has submitted himself to what the I Ching calls The Taming Power of the Small". I feel certain that his eight authors, whether they are in this world or in Heaven, will salute Mr. Naranjo for this perceptive essay.—from the Preface by P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins