Other popular children’s stories that she wrote include Willow Witches Brook (1944), Gold Gorse Common (1945) and Thistledown (1981). She twisted the standard blueprint for fairy tales and created characters that appealed to readers of all ages.

Kaye had a knack for writing for children. Here she met an odd job boy who was also disguising his princely status, and the rest is history… Relishing her freedom, she lived a joyful life in the woods before getting a job as fourth scullery maid in a local kitchen. On hearing that her father had arranged for a Prince to slay a dragon and ask for her hand in marriage, the ordinary princess ditched her finery and jewels and jumped out of the nursery window. This meant that instead of having long blond hair, perfect features and lavish ballgowns like her older sisters, she had short mousy hair, a plain face and preferred to play in scruffy clothes.

In 1980 she published The Ordinary Princess, which is the story of a princess who at her christening was bestowed the gift of ordinariness.

Kaye wrote prolifically throughout her life both for children and adults. She meets ordinary people, makes new friends, and has fun adventures.Although best known for The Far Pavilions, M.M. While her perfect sisters must behave themselves and keep their clothes clean, Princess Amy sneaks off to run and play. While everyone else is distressed at Princess Amethyst’s (now called Amy most of the time) lack of perfection, Amy realizes that Old Crustacea was right about it making her happier. She gets freckles! Sometimes, she even makes spelling mistakes! Her golden hair darkens from golden blonde to a mouse brown and loses its curl. From that day on, Princess Amethyst becomes an ordinary baby who grows up to be an ordinary girl. Of course the king and queen are horrified, but there’s nothing to be done. But, when one of her fairy godmothers, Old Crustacea, comes to the christening to give her blessing and sees all the perfect presents everyone has given her and little Princess Amethyst’s six perfect older sisters, she decides, “I am going to give you something that will probably bring you more happiness than all these fal-lals and fripperies put together. Indeed, when Princess Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne is born, she is a beautiful baby who never cries and who has perfect blonde curls and blue eyes. Everyone knows that seventh princesses are always the luckiest and the most beautiful. Kaye, 1986.Įveryone is excited when a seventh princess is born in the kingdom of Phantasmorania.

The ordinary princess