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The Black Cauldron (Chronicles of Prydain, Bk 2)
The Black Cauldron - Chronicles of Prydain, Bk 2 Author:Lloyd Alexander Since The Book of Three was first published in 1964, young readers have been enthralled by the adventures of Taran the Assistant Pig-keeper and his quest to become a hero. Taran is joined by an engaging cast of characters that includes Eilonwy, the strong-willed and sharp-tongued princess; Fflewddur Fflam, the hyperbole-prone bard; the ever-fait... more »hful Gurgi; and the curmudgeonly Doli--all of whom become involved in an epic struggle between good and evil that shapes the fate of the legendary land of Prydain.
Released over a period of five years, Lloyd Alexander's beautifully written tales not only captured children's imaginations but also garnered the highest critical praise. The Black Cauldron was a Newbery Honor Book, and the final volume in the chronicles, The High King, crowned the series by winning the Newbery Medal for "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."
Henry Holt is proud to present this classic series to a new generation of young readers. Jackets have been handsomely redesigned while retaining the original art of Caldecott Medal-winning artist Evaline Ness. Each retype set volume now includes a pronunciation guide prepared by Lloyd Alexander. A companion book of short stories, The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain, is also available in hardcover for the first time in twenty years.
In their more than thirty years in print, the Chronicles of Prydain have become the standard of excellence in fantasy literature for children.« less
This was the one and only fantasy book I ever had as an assigned reading in school. What is it about mainstream dramatic fiction that sustains its lifeblood? I am clueless. But I loved this book, loved the series, and loved having a teacher to discuss it with. This is well written and if Harry Potter strikes you as too intense for children, then this would be the alternative I would suggest.
I read this series as a boy and it made a huge impact on me. Since then, many juvenile fantasy series have come along, but this one still has to rate at the top.