Jane Yolen is a multi-award winning author, who writes for both adults and children. Her books are much loved and respected all over the world, she has been hailed as "America's Hans Christian Anderson" (REF)
Yolen's Briar Rose, a fictional text, intended for an adult audience was published in 1992. It has been both widely accepted and appreciated, having been published in multiple languages in countries all over the world.
Briar Rose won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for an Adult Novel in 1993.
Synopsis of Briar Rose
Becca's grandmother Gemma is frail & dying. Upon her death the family discovers a box of artifacts kept secret by Gemma, revealing clues about her mysterious life before coming to America. Using the artifacts, and the story of Briar Rose, that Gemma has been telling Becca her whole life, Becca travels to Poland and discovers the truth about her grandmother.
Gemma's Story
Was rescued from a mass grave in the forest, after being gassed at Chelmno, by a man known as the Avenger. Was resusitated by a man known as the "Prince".
Didn't hold any memory of her life before her rescue, only the story of Briar Rose.
Falls in love with the Avenger, while acting as a partisan. Marries the Avenger
After the Avenger is killed (shot down by Nazis), along with most of her group, the assists the Prince, (who has been shot) to safety. By this time she is pregnant.
The prince (Josef Potocki) gives her his ring, to assist her in getting out of Poland and into America.
Makes it into America, settles in Polish community, and has one daughter and three grand-daughters.
Imparts her own version of Briar Rose to her grandchildren, as a way of passing her story onto the younger generation (see Comparison Table page).