Review: Isis by Douglas Glegg

Iris and her brothers move with their mother to their Grandfather's old house in Cornwall.  There, they find old tombs with ancient legends attached to them of those who have called back the dead.

Iris is fascinated and inspired as well by the myth of Isis and Osiris and is in a local play about the same.  But when tragedy strikes, her love for her brother makes her do a very foolish thing.

Sad and atmospheric, with wonderful illustrations.

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The Legend of Isis and Osiris is fascinating.  There are many versions but the consistent parts are that the gods Isis and Osiris were siblings and married in the ancient Egyptian tradition.  When their brother Set kills Osiris, Isis goes back and retrieves his body parts (he has been dismembered and the parts scattered) all but one.  She uses magic to conceive a child, Horus.  Horus will eventually overthrow Set who took over the throne after he killed Osiris, and restore balance to Egypt's lands.

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In the book, Iris is inspired by this story and the Legend of the Cornish Weeping Woman which was told to her by the house's Caretaker, Old Marsh.  

Is is really a good idea to try and cheat death?

Terri