The Chronicles of Prydain

May 25, 2001 - © Virginia Marin

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SUMMER READING

Lloyd Alexander

"Most of us are called on to perform tasks far beyond what we can do. Our capabilities seldom match our aspirations, and we are often woefully unprepared. To this extent, we are all Assistant Pig-Keepers at heart."

This quote from the Book of Three, one in a series of six books that comprise The Chronicles of Prydain, quickly caught my attention.

I bought a Cappuccino, found a comfortable chair and opened to page one. I love to go into a book store, especially when there are no pressing time constraints in competition with my desire to browse.

Meet Lloyd Alexander. Lloyd Alexander is a wonderful writer of childrens' books. His first book for young readers, Time Cat, which encouraged him to to explore Welsh mythology, was published in 1963. A love of Celtic mythology developed and from that love affair sprang the books which comprise The Chronicles of Prydain.

The Black Cauldron was a Newbery Honor book while The High King received the coveted Newbery Medal for Childrens' Literature.

All of Lloyd Alexander's stories are magical. The Book of Three which I read at one sitting, blended the rich elements of Welsh legend and universal mythology. It tells about the imaginary enchanted kingdom of Prydain which is filled with good and evil. It is a tale of Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, whose one desire is to become a hero.

At some point, a famous oracular sow, Hen Wen, somehow slips by Taran. Taran, in an effort to catch the pig, before the forces of evil do, throws caution to the wind and sets out to find the pig. Taran's humorous and valorous adventures will keep readers of all ages completely absorbed--for this is pure fantasy that is rooted in reality and truth.

Other books in the chronicles are The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain.

If you like the Chronicles of Narnia, and The Hobbit, you will love The Chronicles of Prydain.

Somewhere in Prydain

This is Dubh Sidhe

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The copyright of the article The Chronicles of Prydain in Folklore is owned by Virginia Marin. Permission to republish The Chronicles of Prydain in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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