Up Next: The Short Story, The Wicker Husband…

There’s something quite inviting about a good story. It draws us in and gently encourages us to reflect on its themes, whether they offer a moral lesson, a message, or a fresh perspective. As authors explore questions and concerns, they sometimes suggest answers and sometimes leave us with more to consider about the world around us. Folk tales are a familiar part of this tradition: stories passed down through oral tradition across generations with no single known author.

Ursula Mills’ short story “The Wicker Husband” follows the familiar contours of a folk tale, weaving together ordinary characters, a pastoral setting, supernatural elements, and a reflection on human nature and cultural values. Its heroine, the Ugly Woman, begins with a hardship: she has no husband. Through three significant events, the story moves toward a resolution in which her goodness is rewarded, and the townsfolk’s unkind attitudes and actions are punished.

I’ll share my thoughts when I’m through. Something tells me I’ll have much to discuss.