The Wee Free Men

33

Roland’s name suggests the ballad ‘Childe Rowland and Burd Ellen’, about a young boy who has to rescue his sister (and the brothers who had previously failed) from the King of Elfland. Of course, the DW version is worse than useless.

Terry had no connection in mind, however:

“I chose Roland because it’s a) old b) a solid kind of name, suggesting the kind of boy he is and c) probably, because I used to live next door to a Roland when I was a kid.”

“[‘Childe Rowland and Burd Ellen’] doesn’t mean anything to me, I’m afraid, but it’s eerie, innit? I think I might start pretending I had that in mind all along:-)"