Helen Stratton ~ The Lily of Life
London: Hodder and Stoughton ~ 1913
The Lily of Life, by Marie, Crown Princess of Roumania, was published in 1913 by Hodder and Stoughton. Queen Marie was a prolific writer. She wrote several famous works, including The Dreamer of Dreams and The Stealers of Light, both illustrated by Edmund Dulac. Little has been written about Helen Stratton. One source lists her birth year as approximately 1867, and her date of death as June 4, 1961, at the age of 95, and a kind reader has helped to verify that information (see comments below this post). I love her illustrations for The Lily of Life, and I will be seeking out more of her work to share.
The Lily of Life is the story of two good sisters who fall in love with the same man, Prince Ilario, who then becomes ill. I skimmed the story and read bits and pieces of the narrative through to the end. There are parallels, it seems, between this work, written years before it, and The Lord of the Rings, in this sense: Corona must cross a bog filled with death and evil things, climb stone steps to reach the top of a treacherous cliff, and plunge into dangerous depths, in her quest to find a cure. Corona has a faithful servant who loves her. He follows after her into the sea, and she fears he will drown. After he clambers into her boat, later, she leaves him behind, because she must complete her quest alone, and in silence.
Click each image for great detail.
Helen Stratton ~ The Lily of Life
London: Hodder and Stoughton ~ 1913
Frontispiece
Helen Stratton ~ The Lily of Life
London: Hodder and Stoughton ~ 1913
Title Page
But why, at the end of the quest, when all has been set to selfless rights, and Prince Ilario has recovered from his illness, and Ilario and Corona's sister, Mora, have wed, must the heroine die? Why cannot Corona, who suffered so much, and exhibited so much courage, not find the strength to live? Even in 1913, must she literally die of a broken heart?
If you read the text, you will appreciate Helen Stratton's illustrations all the more. She captures the descriptions of the characters, the settings, and the actions with accuracy; and yet, a beautiful subtlety, choosing details that will illuminate, rather than sensationalize, the grimmer aspects of the story.
Click the title, The Lily of Life, to view the illustrations in their original context and to read the story.
Please leave your comments. I'd love to know what you think.
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Hi Annie!
ReplyDeleteLovely stuff! I haven't seen this work before. It's amazing how much treasure is out there to be discovered. I look forward to reading the story.
Hi Thom, It's good to hear from you. The story is riddled with stereotypes, but it is beautifully written in a compelling, complex, and lyrical manner; and Helen Stratton's illustrations are a perfect complement. Stratton focused on the love and the determination, and the essential details of every scene, with a careful eye for composition, color, and balance. I absolutely love these illustrations!
DeleteFurther to your comment about Helen Stratton's life, I think I can help.
ReplyDeleteShe was born Helen Isabel Mansfield Ramsay Stratton 05 Apr 1867 in Nowgong, Bundelkhand, Bengal, India (now Nowganj, Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh), daughter of John Proudfoot and Georgiana Anne Stratton. He was a very eminent doctor and colonial administrator. Her birth/baptism is recorded in the India Office Collection at the British Library and has been indexed on the IGI (familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGQ2-BZ6)
She moved back to England with her mother and siblings around 1868 and can be found in the census entries 1871-1911 for bath and Kensinton, london.
I cannot exactly verify the date of her death, but 4 June 1961 accords with family information. Together with her reported place of death (Cran Hill Nursing Home, Weston, Bath) this ties in with the GRO index entry (Q2 1961 Bath 7C 26 aged 95).
Hope that helps - she was a superb illustrator!
Colin Perry
Hi Colin,
DeleteThank you so much for adding biographical information about Helen Stratton. After receiving your comment, I searched and found the source I'd first seen that gave her birth and death dates, and a little bit more information including a bibliography of her work. Your information confirms that source, so I've added the link to my post: http://www.lookandlearn.com/blog/10883/helen-stratton-artist/
I appreciate your help! ~ Annie