The Maiden King: The Reunion of Masculine and Feminine

by Marion Woodman and Robert Bly

Book Overview

From Robert Bly, author of the groundbreaking bestseller Iron John, and famed Jungian analyst Marion Woodman comes an interpretation of a primordial folktale that takes the message behind Iron John to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805057781
• ISBN13: 9780805057782
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Owl Publishing Company
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.6" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Bly's Maiden King

One half of the book is very much worth reading - the first half - in which Bly does his best to peel back our modern cognitive blindfolds and admit some of the light stored in this ancient folktale. The second half - Woodman's - should be avoided, as it does its best to reinstall those blindfolds. Bly treats the tale itself, and the knowledge it contains, with great respect. Woodman, unfortunately, simply uses it as a forum for the usual sophistry. At any rate, it's a book well worth digesting.

Good not Great

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.

An entertaining, yet powerful message.

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.

The Search for Equality of the Sexes Continues

This story narrated by the authors Robert Bly (who wrote the bestseller Iron John) and Marion Woodman (reknowned psychoanalyst) takes a deeper look into the differences and similarities of the sexes. They artfully present this book in a conversational manner, by analyzing an ancient russian folk story of a man who is intimidated by the presence of strong women. The authors take the listener step-by-step into the story, and discuss the differences between masculine and feminine. I found the audio insightful, intelligent and very informative. I recommend it highly to any man or woman interested in understanding the similarities and differences of the sexes.

Keys to the Reunion of Masculine and Feminine

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.