The Book of Three
(1964)
The Chronicles of Prydain was a favorite of one of my college professors. She ran the Library Science program at the time I was studying to be a teacher-librarian. Any time I see the series I think of her and because I'm taking a class on fantasy I decided to give it a try. I've no idea why it took me so long-it was a wonderful!
Synopsis:
Taran is bored with his assistant Pig-Keeper duties, even though his charge is none other than Hen Wen, Prydain's only oracular pig. He'd rather be doing something more heroic, like making swords and learning to use them.
When Hen Wen escapes and Taran goes after her, he finds himself farther from home than he's ever been. Soon he begins to realize that heroism is not easy task. With the dreaded Horned King on the loose and King Arawn gathering the forces of evil, Taran must look past his own dreams to warn the population of Prydain-before it's too late.
I love how fantasy so easily transports me away to another land and this one did just that. I imaged trudging through the lands of Prydain with Taran, Eilonwy and Gwydion as they follow through with each quest and do battle with the Horned King. This one has very typical good vs. evil crisis but the characters bring it completely to life. Eilonwy is a natural rebel-always curious and never willing to just follow along. She is perfect example of a positive female character and she can do a little magic! I also love a hero who's shy and humble and Taran and Prince Gwydion both have these characteristics. I'm anxious to read the next in the series, The Black Cauldron, to discover the next adventure awaiting Taran and Eilonwy.
Did every one else read this one in high school? Better late than never for me!
When Hen Wen escapes and Taran goes after her, he finds himself farther from home than he's ever been. Soon he begins to realize that heroism is not easy task. With the dreaded Horned King on the loose and King Arawn gathering the forces of evil, Taran must look past his own dreams to warn the population of Prydain-before it's too late.
I love how fantasy so easily transports me away to another land and this one did just that. I imaged trudging through the lands of Prydain with Taran, Eilonwy and Gwydion as they follow through with each quest and do battle with the Horned King. This one has very typical good vs. evil crisis but the characters bring it completely to life. Eilonwy is a natural rebel-always curious and never willing to just follow along. She is perfect example of a positive female character and she can do a little magic! I also love a hero who's shy and humble and Taran and Prince Gwydion both have these characteristics. I'm anxious to read the next in the series, The Black Cauldron, to discover the next adventure awaiting Taran and Eilonwy.
Did every one else read this one in high school? Better late than never for me!
28 Days of Things I Love; #11
I love me some magical fantasy!
1 comment:
Oh, my gosh! I LOVE these books ... seriously, by the time you finish the fifth one, you will be crying.
I actually just finished reading the series with my second-grade daughter, and it was like reliving childhood :-)
I was always a voracious reader, and I found that the best source was my brother's backpack ... the greatest gift I ever found were Lloyd Alexander's Prydain books.
While it's the standard hero's quest motif, the characterization that goes along with the book really raises the series to the top.
If you've never read these books, you're missing out. They have it all--adventure, humor (one character has a harp that snaps its strings every time he tells a lie, and ... well, he's prone to exaggeration--it's freaking hysterical), drama, magic, and even a budding romance :-)
Thanks so much for giving them the attention they deserve :-)
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