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Second novel by YSU prof published
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
Rebecca Barnhouse, a professor at Youngstown State University, recently had her second novel for young readers published.
“The Coming of the Dragon,” which is set in the time and place of Beowulf, was released in October by Random House. It follows Barnhouse’s “The Book of the Maidservant,” published in 2009.
Barnhouse, who teaches writing and young-adult literature at YSU, has always had an affinity for the Middle Ages, a time when myth and magic were the equal of logic and technology. She has been reading and studying the books and poetry of the era for most of her life.
“Dragon” is aimed at readers ages 9 to 16, although many older people are also drawn to it. It revolves around a young boy named Rune with a mysterious background. He is not naturally skilled in battle, but trains at the court of King Beowulf. When a dragon is set loose, Rune proves his bravery, fighting side by side with Beowulf even after the more experienced warriors flee.
Barnhouse created Rune as a byproduct of her lesson planning for the ancient English poem.
“I like to ask ‘what-if’ questions about characters when we’re studying the literature,” said Barnhouse. “What if this character did this, or if a new character arrived?”
A native of Vero Beach, Fla., Barnhouse got her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, and her master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
She taught briefly at UNC before coming to YSU 15 years ago, where she specializes in literature of the Middle Ages (500 to 1500 AD. She has been a committee member of the YSU English Festival, which serves high school students, for 15 years.
While in graduate school, she studied abroad in England where her love of ancient literature was nurtured.
“I have always been attracted to the manuscripts (literally, handwritten books) of the Middle Ages, and also the era’s literature,” she said. While in England, she sought out and viewed manuscripts in libraries. “You can see where the writer’s pen ran out of ink, and after it was dipped in ink,” she said.
Although the fantastical literature of the era often involves dragons and other supernatural beings, it was serious at the time of its writing, and intended for adults. Nowadays, such literature falls under the category of fantasy and tends to attract younger readers. That’s fine with Barnhouse. Although she never set out to write for any particular age group, she admits “I’ll always be a 14-year-old on the inside.”
The Middle Ages span 1,000 years and Barnhouse’s books reflect the vastness of the era. “The Coming of the Dragon” is set in 6th Century Scandinavia, while “Maidservant” is set in England, France and Italy in the 15th Century. “Maidservant” is based on “The Book of Margery Kempe,” which is believed to be the first autobiography written in English. Kempe was a devout but harsh woman, and “Maidservant” is a fictional first-person account of a mistreated teenage servant girl who accompanies her on a pilgrimage to Rome.
Rune, the protagonist in “Dragon,” is based on the character Wiglaf in the poem “Beowulf.” Barnhouse changed the name to make it sound more palatable to young readers.
Barnhouse’s next book, due in March 2012, will also be based on “Beowulf,” and will be a companion to “Dragon.” Entitled “Peaceweaver,” it will revolve around a young girl, a contemporary of Rune.
Barnhouse’s books are available at Barnes & Noble and online at randomhouse.com/kids.