Duffy and the Devil

As a child, any mention or image of the devil scared me immensely. Still, I remember checking this book out several times because it was just that good.

n this enchanting tale, a clever girl named Duffy encounters a mischievous devil who challenges her wits. Duffy must use her intelligence and bravery to outsmart the devil and escape his clutches. The story celebrates themes of cleverness and resourcefulness in overcoming adversity.

The story is an old one with many iterations. This version came from a 19th-century play traditionally performed in Cornwall during the Christmas season. I remember two versions of the story from my childhood: Rumpelstiltskin and Tom Tit Tot. The biggest difference in these tales is that Duffy is a young woman who, herself, claims to be able to spin, weave and knit (regular cloth), while in the other stories it was the girl’s father who boasted his daughter could spin straw into gold. Duffy’s devil states he will take HER away after three years; Rumpelstiltskin gives the girl only three days to guess his name, or he will take her newborn child. Minor quibbles. It’s a fairy tale that has appealed to children (and their parents) for show more centuries.

The book won the Caldecott medal. Margo Zemach’s illustrations are wonderfully detailed and help support the story. I found myself examining them for small details. I particularly loved the wedding feast illustration. show less

This is a version of an old Cornish play and folk tale, told with jovial wit and zaniness. The story is Rumpelstiltskin, with added Cornish flair, similar to "Punch and Judy" in humor. Unlike many popular folk tales, this story goes the extra mile in terms of developing characters. Highly recommended for students learning about folklore around the world and mid-late elementary students.

This book could be used in a unit on fairy tales and their variance around the world (this being a Cornish version of Rumplestiltskin). The Zemachs' odd drawing style is amusing and encourages re-reading, and reminded me of William Steig's art.

This was kind of like Rumplestiltskin, except that Duffy annoyed me way more.

Caldecott Medal, 1974

Zemach, H., & Zemach, M. (1973). Duffy and the devil. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.
Grades 1 through 3

Squire Lovel is in search of an assistant for his housekeeper, Old Jone. He finds one in Duffy, recently fired under accusations of laziness and incompetence. Duffy is asked to knit the squire new stockings; try as she might, she cannot figure out how to use the spinning wheel. She starts crying, and a little devil appears from behind a stack of fleeces. He offers to spin and knit all she wants in return for her soul in three years. If she can find out his name, however, she is free of the deal. In three years, Duffy goes from servant to mistress of the house. When the time comes to fulfill her part of the deal, Duffy breaks down and show more confesses to Old Jone her promise to the devil. Old Jone designs a plan that ends with the squire witnessing a party with witches and devils in attendance. The devil sings a song that includes his name, and through the squire Duffy learns the information that helps her beat the devil. The angry devil stomps until he disappears in a flash of flame, and all the clothing he had even spun is turned into ashes.

Duffy and the devil is the Cornish retelling of the German Rumpelstiltskin story. The Cornish version explores characters and situations typical of life in England's southwestern coast. Bits and pieces of the Cornish dialect are kept in the story for authenticity. The pen-and wash illustrations portray characters as jolly, rosy-cheeked, and very round individuals engaging in traditional activities such as tea drinking, garden frolicking, and hare hunting. Duffy and the Devil was a 1973 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year, a 1974 National Book Award Finalist for Children's Books, and the winner of the 1974 Caldecott Medal. show less