A 2023 retelling of the classic Cinderella tale took a bolder and more local twist than many of the works we've see in the media. The Marquis Incognito: The Story of the Little Cinderboy of New Mexico was written by local writer and performer Paul S. Valdez de Polley, who is also a friend of my family. I recently read the book and interviewed Valdez de Polley about the symbolism and references that make it so unique.
Valdez de Polley's novel holds many similarities to Cinderella, highlighting a theme of true love and serving a lesson of not mistreating others. Though unlike the numerous retellings of this fairy-tale, this modern version of Cinderella focuses on a young janitor at the local arts school in Santa Fe named Pablito, who eventually attends three balls that lead him to his love interest, Leif the Earl of Rock Raven. Along with a retelling of Cinderella, this novel also pulls from other fairy-tales, such as Sleeping Beauty and Snow White.
Though the plot can be difficult to understand at the beginning, the novel is a well-suited read for new writers, as its symbolism and allusion to other classic stories are inspiring. This book is also for fans of LGBTQIA+ romance and fairy-tales.
This novel is unique from other fairy-tale retellings through the love story of the main couple, Pablito and a Scottish Earl named Leif, who go through trials to break a curse that was placed onto the Earl, and discover who the "Marquis Incognito" really is all while falling in love.
Though there are many references to fairy-tales in the book, there are many local references, too. The Santa Fe River makes an appearance multiple times. There are empanadas and prune pie desserts, the governor's mansion, the governor herself, the gushes of wind in autumn, the Jemez Mountains, the crows that heavily populate New Mexico, along with the many mentions of the scenery of Santa Fe. Even the Spanish language and culture that intertwined with New Mexico are also found. Spanish words like "hijo" — a term of endearment for males by elders in Spanish — are found multiple times.
According to Valdez de Polley, the inspiration for The Marquis Incognito came when he was about 5 years old at his grandma’s bridal shop in Santa Fe.
“There were some lights turned off and it looked like a ballroom with mirrors, and I got to thinking about Cinderella. And what if Cinderella was a boy? And so that gave me the inspiration to write the book; so it’s been in my mind for a long time, a really long time,” Valdez de Polley said.
The name for the book’s main character came from the author's own life as well, having been begrudgingly called “Pablito” as a little kid and hating it.
“It wasn’t until much, much later that I realized much like the story, that Cinderella hated the name Cinderella because it meant ‘of the cinders,’ ” Valdez de Polley said. “What I did is take a name that wasn’t empowering and I made it empowering.”
His answer for the love interest, the redheaded character Leif, was also taken from his life. The traditionally Scottish name Leif, Valdez de Polley said, was included in the novel because of his husband Richard’s family.
“I was always in love with Scotland and the magical world of Scotland, and how it feels like a lush fairy-tale world,” he said.
Symbols and references both to fairy-tales and to New Mexico are a major feature of the book, and Valdez de Polley wants readers to spot these symbols.
“So in the book, I talk a lot about leaves and water, which are symbolic for [how] you can’t go back in time, it’s not going to be in the same place. I mentioned New Mexico’s acacia, the Santa Fe River, which is essential for New Mexico's way of life and very traditional for New Mexico's way of life,” he said.
Along with these symbols and references for New Mexico and Santa Fe, there are others for readers to pick up on.
“There is also the stained glass from Notre Dame, which is symbolic for your motives are see-through," Valdez de Polley said. "And the mask, which is for not judging the person for how they look and paying attention to inside looks and paying attention to the way they talk.”
His book ends up becoming one many could not only enjoy but also gives a reader to find new ways to love the book over reading it numerous times.
The Marquis Incognito is a book that, during this Pride month, could be a perfect addition to your reading list. If you enjoy LGBTQIA+ romances, symbolism, true love saving the day and fairy-tales, this book may be for you. It can be found at Beastly Books in the Railyard.
Aurora Sandoval is a freshman at New Mexico School for the Arts. Contact them at rorybear001@gmail.com.
The Santa Fe New Mexican observes its 175th anniversary with a series highlighting some of the major stories and figures that have appeared in the paper's pages through its history. The collection also includes archival photo galleries.
