The High King (Chronicles of Prydain Series #5) by Lloyd Alexander

Product Details

Synopsis

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-faithful 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 retypeset 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.

Annotation

In this final part of the chronicle of Prydain the forces of good and evil meet in an ultimate confrontation, which determines the fate of Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper who wanted to be a hero.

Children's Literature

Five enchanting books comprise the "Chronicles of Prydain" by Lloyd Alexander. Prydain is a land with heroes and legends drawn from Welsh mythology. The High King, the final book of the Chronicles is weighty and serious-even oppressive at times. There is a sense of despair in this story. The humor and romance that wove charm into the earlier books are starkly absent from this tale where the end of the world is threatened. Taran rises fully to manhood and all its burdens. Fortunately, the dark curtain in this book lifts at the end to reveal a beautiful and fanciful conclusion. Other books in the Chronicles include The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, and Taran Wanderer. 1969 (orig.

Biography

When Lloyd Alexander was a boy, his favorite books included King Arthur stories, fairy tales, and legends--even the Mabinogion, the classic collection of Welsh legends. This literary background inspired him to create the land of Prydain and the adventures of Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper. Mr. Alexander lives with his wife, Janine, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.