Marguerite; or the isle of Demons is a legend which is now an indisputable part of the early history of Canada. Marguerite is the story of a young woman of noble birth who was one of the colonists that Roberval, Viceroy of Canada and Newfoundland, brought out from France in 1542 to establish a colony on the St. Lawrence River. Another one of the colonists was a young soldier who was in love with Marguerite. Their love-making during the voyage irritated Roberval so much that he decided to get rid of Marguerite by marooning her and the old nurse that accompanied her on one of the Harrington Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The island was the Isle of Demons, inhabited by dreaded and fearful creatures. The legend, told in verse by George Martin, a forgotten Canadian poet of nearly a century ago, is a stirring tale of a woman's fortitude and her indomitable struggle for survival.

These new essays explore the ways in which contemporary dramatists have retold or otherwise made use of myths, fairy tales and legends from a variety of cultures, including Greek, West African, North American, Japanese, and various parts of Europe. The dramatists discussed range from well-established playwrights such as Tony Kushner, Caryl Churchill, and Timberlake Wertenbaker to new theatrical stars such as Sarah Ruhl and Tarell Alvin McCraney. The book contributes to the current discussion of adaptation theory by examining the different ways, and for what purposes, plays revise mythic stories and characters. The essays contribute to studies of literary uses of myth by focusing on how recent dramatists have used myths, fairy tales and legends to address contemporary concerns, especially changing representations of women and the politics of gender relations but also topics such as damage to the environment and political violence.

Canada is packed with intriguing destinations where heritage and landscape interact. Bob Henderson captures our living history and its relationship to the land.

alike." --Book Jacket.