Contents

Acknowledgments

X

Foreword

xi

Introduction

1

Part I

SETTLING DOWN

11

1.

The Loss of Magic

The Elves and the Shoemaker

13

2.

Youthful Ideals at Midlife

The Magic Purse

21

3.

Hoarding the Magic

The Fisherman and the Mermaid

27

Part II

REVERSALS

37

4.

Rôle Reversais

Stubborn Husband, Stubborn Wife

39

5.

Women’s Emancipation at Midlife The Wife Who Became King

54

6.

Crossing Faths The Lute Player

74

Part III COMMON CRISES

87

Death at Midlife

The Mortal Kmg

Death and the Inner Journey

The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die

Fortune and Midlife                                                  108

Destiny

Wisdom and Luck                                                     118

The King Who Would Be Stronger Than Pate

Part IV      RECONCILIATION AND RENEWAL                    131

Practical Wisdom                                                      133

Clever Answers

The Challenge of Evil                                                 ^2

Solomons Advice

154

Insight and Humor

The Tell Taie

Suffering and Healing The Stoning

176

Renewal and the Underworld

The Bonesetter

The Fountain of Life                                             187

The Golden Tree

Epilogue: The Middle Passage                             206

Notes                                                                       214

References                                                              220

Index                                                                        229