Catherine, Called Birdy
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 Cover |
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| Author | Karen Cushman |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Harper Trophy |
| Released | 1994 |
| Media type | Hardcover, Softback |
| Pages | 224 pp. |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-06-440584-2 |
Catherine, Called Birdy is the first children's novel written by Karen Cushman, published in 1994. It won the Newbery Honor in 1995.
[edit] Plot summary
The scene is a manor house in Medieval England in 1290 and Catherine, the wilful, stubborn daughter of Sir Rollo and Lady Aislinn, has been asked by her brother the monk to keep a journal. The book itself holds all of her diary entries of her travels, thoughts, and activities. When Catherine begins the journal she is 13 years old. It ends when she is 14 years old.
Catherine is the only daughter and youngest child of a country knight and an English noblewoman, which makes her a lady. The earliest part of her journal is her account of her life as a 'lady', which includes tangling her spinning, picking out her embroidery, mixing foul smelling vats of soap, and doctoring the sick and afflicted. She detests these tasks and frequently longs for the carefree and unfettered life of a villager.
Not many weeks after Catherine begins her journal, her father establishes the process of matching Catherine with the most willing and wealthy suitor he can find. Appalled by his selfish plan to effectively auction her off to the highest bidder, Catherine vows action. Throughout the following months, Catherine manages to successfully dispose of each potential suitor, to the rage of her father. As a result, Catherine also begins to reflect more frequently on the ideas of love, marriage, happiness, and her limited ability to steer the course of her own life.
Finally, despite Catherine's best efforts, she is matched with the ugliest, foulest, richest, suitor of them all. Catherine continues to believe that she will find some way to mutilate the engagement, but as her marriage day draws nearer, her hopes begin to wane.
[edit] Characters
Catherine (Birdy, Little Bird): The protagonist of the book. Catherine is 13 years old when she begins her journal, but turns 14 in November. Self-described as 'stubborn, peevish, and prickly as a thistle.' Catherine has a fondness for birds and keeps several different varieties and many cages in her chamber. She has even decided that she is most similar to a goose, because they are both 'cunning, greedy, shortsighted, and stubborn.' Catherine is compared to birds by characters, mostly those who are trying to teach her that happiness can be found in her life, if she would stop searching elsewhere.
Lord Rollo: Catherine's father.(the shit head) He is often described by Catherine as a disgusting, greedy pig of a man; she likens him to a buzzard, slow and stupid. Catherine's father does not tolerate her frequent impertinance and disagreements between them often find Catherine with a smarting head or rump and locked in her chamber.
Lady Aislinn: Catherine's mother. Catherine likes her to a swan, stately and graceful. A kind, gentle mother to Catherine, though she is described as not being very learned or having the desire to be. During the course of the novel, Catherine's mother has had several difficult miscarriages, which leave her weakened and deeply saddened. Catherine's mother does conceive and bear a daughter by the end of the novel, which is named Eleanor Mary Catherine.
Morwenna: Catherine's nurse, who at one time was also a nurse to Catherine's mother. Catherine likens her to a nuthatch, brown and dumpy. She keeps a wary and unwelcome eye on Catherine at all times to make sure she is doing her chores, staying out of mischeif, and progressing in the art of being a lady.
Perkin: A goat boy in the village. Could be considered Catherine's best friend and favorite companion. He was born with one short leg and hobbles when he walks, but is a very intelligent and free spirited boy. Catherine likens him to a falcon, because he is clever. He lives with his granny in the village when the weather is poor, otherwise, he lives in the meadow with the goats. Catherine frequently discusses deeper matters of life and heart with him.
Catherine's siblings: Catherine has 3 older brothers. Robert and Thomas are away in the king's service, and Edward is a monk at the monastery. Later in the book, a baby sister is born into the family.
