The Maiden King: The Reunion of Masculine and Feminine (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Marion Woodman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Although he's a National Book Award-winning poet, revered not only for his poetry but for his masterful translations of and critical essays about such internationally celebrated poets as Goethe and Antonio Machado, Robert Bly is perhaps more widely recognized for spearheading the men's movement with his bestselling book Iron John. Marion Woodman is a Jungian analyst whose scholarly work on feminine consciousness has distinguished her as one of Canada's leading feminists. These two renowned intellectuals have joined forces to explore the struggle for power between the masculine and feminine, using the ancient Russian myth of the Maiden Tsar as their framework.

The story of the Maiden Tsar is richly complex, detailing a young man's encounters with a series of strong female characters--some mythical, some mortal--including a tutor who betrays him, the harsh but wise Baba Yaga, and the omnipotent and beautiful Maiden Tsar. In his commentary, Bly explores the representation of the masculine, drawing on psychological, spiritual, and mythological sources to inform his analysis; Woodman uses a Jungian lens through which she can probe the psyche of the feminine. Together they hope to find a place in which the two sexes can coexist, without undermining or compromising the powerful energy of the feminine.

A thoughtful, enlightening, and impassioned work, The Maiden King may very well turn out to be the highbrow Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. --Kera Bolonik

From Publishers Weekly

The authors base their book on a hugely intriguing Russian tale of similar name, "The Maiden Tsar," which they read from a mythological perspective that seeks to "reunite the masculine and feminine" principles. Principles because, as Bly points out, as concepts they do not belong to, or necessarily express attributes of, the female/male genders as conventionally based on sexedness. Those familiar with Bly's previous book on a similar theme, Iron John, or Woodman's Leaving My Father's House, will recognize the Jungian approachAarchetypical, metaphoricalAemployed to demonstrate how we can achieve self-actualization only through an integration of these complementary principles. This book early on declares that no "battle of the sexes" exists in the metaphorical world, because when two people come together, whether of the same or other gender, four people are presentAfor the masculine and feminine are alive in each individual. The book itself is divided into two parts: first, Bly interprets the story, then Woodman does the same. Bly's is a virtual line-by-line reading, informed by his vast knowledge of art and literatureAcomparisons are made, other stories and characters invoked. Woodman's thematic approach discusses such topics as "positive mother vs. Stepmother," "power without presence" and a "journey into the unconscious." In sum, Bly's analysis is largely literary, Woodman's psychological. The transcript of a conversation between Bly and Woodman closes the book in a fascinating kind of antiphonal last word. Those who think criticism has little application to real life may think twice after putting this work down.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.; 1 edition (October 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805057773
• ISBN-13: 978-0805057775
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #633,456 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keys to the Reunion of Masculine and Feminine, October 22, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

In our gender-polarized society, conflict is easy to come by, and the important question is, "who triumphed?" Robert and Marion have taken on a much more difficult task, of reunion of the masculine and feminine.

Our society seeks "juice," not harmony. So it's not surprising that the reviewer for The New York Times Book Review, Karen Lehrman, panned the book. Ms. Lehrman is a feminist deeply embroiled in the polarizing gender conflict. Her criticism that Robert and Marion "often seem intent on confusing" the central ideas is ironic in light of the New York Times book review of her own book: "what The Lipstick Proviso contains, despite flashes of good sense, is a muddle of sometimes self-contradictory assertions that undermine her own authority."

The criticism is that the comments in the book are not literally true. But this reunion of the masculine and the feminine, if it is to occur, must happen at the interior level-the spiritual level, if you will. Robert says as much on the very first page: "If you, as a reader, adore literalism, you may as well close the book now-you'll argue with our sallies so often that it will be bad for your health."

Iron John encourages men to move beyond ready-made versions of masculinity to a responsive form of masculinity, just as Marion's Leaving My Father's House encourages women to move from "the ready-made femininity the patriarchal culture has imposed on them" into a responsive form of femininity. This book begins where those two books leave off. The story ends in a reunion and a marriage between the conscious masculine and the conscious feminine.

In the journey through the story Robert and Marion point out the many ways our culture has made us unconscious and fed on this unconsciousness-things like addictions, materialism, and a drive for instant gratification. A delightful section "How Kali Belongs in the Malls" illustrates this. Robert's poetic style provides for a beautiful weaving together the metaphoric themes of the story. Marion brings imagination and passion to her interpretation, complementing Robert beautifully with interpretations as poetic as they are insightful.

This book has an important message, for anyone concerned about gender polarization or about materialism, self-orientation, instant gratification, addictions or other signs that our lives are empty, that something is missing. If you have the feeling that the answer is not owning more things, not in power politics, but in the realm of spirit and soul, read this book to search for keys to reunion of masculine and feminine in the world around you.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good not Great, March 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Maiden King: The Reunion of Masculine and Feminine (Paperback)

I had high hopes and in many ways was not disappointed. I loved the format and co-authorship was wonderfully refreshing. The biggest disappointment is that the fairy tale wasn't that fascinating. The tale required all of Bly and Woodman's abilities in amplifying and expanding on symbols, and their abilities are impressive. However, I don't think it's either author's most inspired writing. I also have to vent about Robert "half-empty" Bly's occassional remarks about the current state of decline of today's culture. I think Jungian's call it "negative intuition." It by no means ruins his commentary, so much of which is truly inspired, but I feel his empty comments about "falling SAT scores" and fewer college Shakespeare courses deserve a response. Senex as kurmudgen. The book reflects its origins from a lecture series. It seems to limit the book from being truly great. The spontaneity still registers in the pages, which is nice.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining, yet powerful message., December 12, 1998

By	Loulie Scharf (Asheville, NC USA) - See all my reviews

Marion Woodman and Robert Bly are both masterful story tellers and in their new book, "The Maiden King", they combine their talents to translate an important story. Some critics have not truly read this story for what it is. This book uses a mythological tale because that is how people were explained things long ago. The resurection of this technique of understanding only enhances the meaning and the importance of its message. It is evident that critics such as Ms. Lohrman may be afraid of facing the ideas expressed by the two authors. We will face these ideas at one time or another in our lifetime. The authors explain how men and women have evolved and how they may live together now. There are many mythological references as well as highlights from other poets, authors and anything else that has shaped our society. In a day and age where our culture is defined by "Must See TV" and the 'goings on' in the White House, "The Maiden King" weaves a mythological soul-seeking jouney to understand who we really are how we came to be that way.