Tehanu

Tehanu is a fantasy novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, first published in 1990. It is the fourth book in the Earthsea series, and in some editions appeared with the subtitle The Last Book of Earthsea. The novel revisits the world of Earthsea after the events of the earlier books, but it adopts a more grounded, realist tone and foregrounds social and psychological themes.

Plot and themes

The story follows Tenar, the former priestess of the Tombs of Atuan, who lives a quiet life on the island of Gont. Her life changes when she takes in a young girl who has suffered abuse. The evolving relationship between Tenar and the girl drives much of the narrative, through which Le Guin examines power, gender, vulnerability, and healing. While Ged (Sparrowhawk) makes a reappearance, Tehanu emphasizes ordinary human experiences and moral responsibility over epic quests, and it reconsiders how magic and authority function within Earthsea.

Publication and reception

Tehanu was published by Harper & Row in the United States and by Gollancz in the United Kingdom. The novel is noted for signaling a shift in the Earthsea cycle toward a more intimate, character-driven approach and for its feminist perspective. It generated both critical acclaim and some reader resistance, as its tone and focus diverged from the earlier books’ more traditional coming-of-age fantasy adventures.

Legacy

Tehanu is regarded as a landmark entry in feminist fantasy and a catalyst for broader discussions about gender, violence, and power in fantasy literature. It remains a key part of the Earthsea canon, later followed by The Other Wind, which continues the broader arc of the series.

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