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    The Book of Three, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Chronicles of Prydain, Book 1
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    The Book of Three, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Chronicles of Prydain, Book 1
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    The Book of Three, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Chronicles of Prydain, Book 1
    Ebook229 pages3 hours

    The Book of Three, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Chronicles of Prydain, Book 1

    By Lloyd Alexander and Shannon Hale

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Henry Holt Books for Young Readers is proud to publish this 50th Anniversary Edition of Lloyd Alexander's classic The Book of Three, the first book in the Chronicles of Prydain, with a new introduction by Newbery Honor–winner Shannon Hale. This anniversary edition is filled with bonus materials, including an interview with Lloyd Alexander, a Prydain short story, the first chapter of the next Prydain book (The Black Cauldron, a Newbery Honor book), an author's note, and a pronunciation guide.

    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 have become involved in an epic struggle between good and evil that shapes the fate of the legendary land of Prydain. This title has Common Core connections.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateSep 23, 2014
    ISBN9781627792462
    Unavailable
    The Book of Three, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Chronicles of Prydain, Book 1
    Author

    Lloyd Alexander

    Lloyd Alexander (1924-2007) was the author of more than forty books for children and adults, including the beloved children's fantasy series, the Chronicles of Prydain, one of the most widely read series in the history of fantasy and the inspiration for the animated Disney film, The Black Cauldron. His books have won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal, the Newbery Honor, and the National Book Award for Juvenile Literature.

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    Reviews for The Book of Three, 50th Anniversary Edition

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    • 3/5
      The whole Chronicles of Prydain series is well-written, imaginative, and was my introduction as a kid to a lifetime love of fantasy fiction. These books tackle large philosophical issues like bullying, the nature of heroism, social responsibility, altruism, and good vs. evil. Appropriate for middle-schoolers or even 5th and 6th graders.
    • 4/5
      A group of us on the LibraryThing 75 challenge thread are reading the Chronicles Prydain this year. We started in January with the first book, The Book of Three. The first book in the Chronicles of Prydain didn't hold up to the second, The Black Cauldron, which I read many times when I was younger, it was a favorite. Perhaps these many reads of the sequel are what lead to me not quite enjoying it as much as I would have. We are introduced to quite a cast of characters. Our main being Taran, the assistant pig keeper, and his pig, Hen Wen (I love that name, I wonder if it means anything). Taran meets up with an odd assortment of companions in the form of the annoying (at least to him) girl Eilonwy, and the bard, Fflewddur. They find themselves rushing to beat the bad guy, The Horned King, to the castle so they can warn the good guys about the attack. The story is enjoyable and easy to follow, but occasionally moved a little too fast for me. I could tell the author was trying to convey a feeling, but he moved on before it had sunk in. Overall I'm glad I read this book, and look forward to reading the sequel, The Black Cauldron, again next month.3.5/5
    • 5/5
      Based on Welsh mythology, this book tells the tale of Taran, the lowly Assistant Pig-Keeper, who gets wrapped up in a quest to stop the Great Horned King from destroying the land of Prydain. Accompanied by a rugged band of compatriots, including a displaced princess, an exagerating unofficial bard, and a wolf man, Taran feels that every decision he makes on the journey is the wrong one... Does the rugged band have what it takes to stop the evil spreading over the land? LOVED this book. I'm so sad that I didn't have it when I was 12 years old. I loved it now, I would have adored it then. The action starts from the very beginning and doesn't let up. Although it's an involved fantasy, the short chapters make the reading a bit easier. Alexander has created a beloved and immortal world and I'm so happy that I've finally discovered it. Highly recommended for fantasy fans and those waiting for the big HP. ;)
    • 3/5
      Reminded me of a less compelling The Dark Is Rising. I didn't find the characters particularly memorable (Taran is kind of a dull, hapless hero), and I never felt that they were in any actual peril. I might've enjoyed it more if I'd read it as a kid--still, I'm withholding ultimate judgment until I read more of the series.
    • 4/5
      The kids and I enjoyed this book. Serious and adventurous with a touch of comedy - a perfect combination.
    • 4/5
      This was published the same year I was, born that is. How did I miss this delightful tale and only stumble upon it in my mid-40s?

      Taran is a precocious bored boy with visions of heroes sword-fighting in his head. He dreams of leaving the small farm where he takes care of a prophetic pig named Hen Wen and lives with Coll and Dallben.

      Something frightens the bees, the chickens and the pig so much that they all escape the farm and disappear into the surrounding forest. Taran is sent to find the pig and return her home. Predictably, he gets lost in the forest following the pig and spies a band of men lead by the terrifying Horned King. Taran barely escapes and flees into the brush, eventually finding Gwydion, a prince and one of the heroes he daydreams about.

      The danger and adventure are non-stop until the end of the book. Along the way, Taran makes mistakes but learns from them and demonstrates he has the talent to be an inspiring and wise leader. He meets several companions and legendary folk who aid him on his quest to reach Caer Dathyl to warn the Sons of Don about the Horned King and his army.

      A fast fun read.
    • 5/5
      Lloyd Alexander was one of the patron saints of my reading youth, and I don't know how many times I checked out the Prydain Chronicles from our local library. The Book of Three is the first in the series and introduces the main characters: Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper; Eilonwy, princess; Fflewddur Fflam, bard and sometime king; Gurgi, nondescript talking creature; and Gwydion, noble prince and warrior. Taran, an orphan under the care of the wise enchanter Dallben, is discontent with his quiet lot taking care of the oracular pig Hen-Wen. But when Hen senses a malevolent evil and flees, Taran must find her and soon meets enough adventure and danger to satisfy even the most restless of Assistant Pig-Keepers. Along the way he meets the feisty Eilonwy, smelly Gurgi, and (mostly) honest Fflewddur — all old friends of mine.Reading it now, I see how deeply Alexander was influenced by Tolkien. Gurgi = a friendly-fied Gollum, Gwydion = Aragorn, Arawn = Sauron, Cauldron-Born = Ringwraiths, etc. More in the second book than the first there's the concept of a single evil weapon that will ensure the Dark Lord's success and can only be destroyed at great personal cost. But there's so much that's different, too, drawing on the rich legendarium of Welsh mythology.A small quibble, but one only strengthened by this mature reread: right in the first chapter, Dallben's detailed discourse to Taran explaining the Book of Three is awkwardly inserted. Yes, we need to know the info, but the occasion for such a clear info-dump is not convincing. I remember thinking before how awkwardly it was done, and this reread only confirmed it. Thankfully, there are no more such missteps in the rest of the series. So strange that it would land in the first chapter, which is usually given such intense editorial scrutiny. Besides that one qualm, I love this book. The action is engaging, the characters well rounded, the humor funny, the stakes high. The Book of the Three is a classic young adult fantasy tale that opens a series of equal quality. I can't wait for my children to experience it the first time!
    • 5/5
      Loved this series from the day I first read it in the fifth grade. Now, my children are reading it and seem to like it also. (Ok maybe not as much as I did, but we live in different times.)The story development is wonderful and definitely preps you for the other four books.
    • 4/5
      The Book of Three is the first book in the Chronicles of Prydain (which the movie The Black Cauldron was based on). It was a very light, cute children’s fantasy similar to Narnia or a children’s version of Tolkien’s works. In it the hero, Taran the Assistant Pig Keeper, has to leave home for the first time in quest of his roaming oracular pig. While abroad, he has many adventures and meets important and interesting people.
    • 4/5
      Recently read this aloud with my wife. The Welsh inspired names are a mouthful, but giving the characters their own voice is pretty easy and fun.
    • 5/5
      The first book in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain is a delightful and easy-reading introduction to a world and set of characters destined to become cherished friends by the end of the series.The books center around the coming-of-age story of their young protagonist, Taran, an assistant pig-keeper who dreams of glory and heroic adventures. Idealistic, self-centered, and impulsive, he is accidentally thrown into a perilous, high-stakes adventure, and begins the long process of learning what heroism and maturity are really all about. Although the themes of the book (and the sequels) run deep, the author isn't heavy-handed with them. The stories are peppered with a cast of colorful, delightful characters and clearly defined villains in the best fantasy tradition. Whether comic relief, foils, future love interest, or role models, they all serve the central purpose of drawing out the qualities in Taran that will goad him on to discovering his own identity, purpose, and destiny. I have many friends who are fans of the series, and each person has a different "favorite character" - which simply illustrates Mr. Alexander's skill in capturing the various archetypes that we all identify with. Classic fantasy, deserves to be far more popular than it is. Although geared toward the 9-to-14 set, I know more adults who read them annually than kids, who nowadays seem to gravitate toward more gratuitous fare. Pity.Point of interest: A reading of the Welsh mythology that inspired these tales will impress those interested with the amount of research the author did, and how often he inserts both obvious and hidden references to the myths in these stories. Even a quick overview will add to one's understanding and enjoyment of the richness of Alexander's Prydain.
    • 3/5
      A fun read, but a bit too simplistic and formulaic. (To be fair, though, some of those formulas may have been originated by this series.) For some reason I got really annoyed by the author using "cried" all the time in dialogue attributions, e.g: "'What are you doing!' he cried."
    • 4/5
      It had been quite awhile since I had read this book (elementary school to be exact), and when I discovered these lovely new editions, I thought it would be fun to revisit the series and actually read the entire thing through this time (I had only ever read through book 2) and I am glad that I did. While my 32-year-old self may have found some of the plot points a little lacking, overall this is a great fantasy series to read. It does contain elements that are found in many other series of this nature (a ragtag group of companions sets out on a quest to defeat the all-powerful evil of the land who remains a more or less enigmatic notion in the background more than an actual physical threat) but it still can stand up on its own.I have to admit, I was surprised by how little actually occurs in this book. It truly is a setup to the rest of the series, but it's a good beginning. Alexander offers up an excellent introduction to each of the characters and where they stand in the land of Prydain. The big battle at the end was practically over before it began, and a good portion of it is told in flashback, and therefore felt a little rushed. Overall, a really good start to the series.
    • 3/5
      Read this on the train today. It's fun and a quick read. It's nothing especially new, in all the fantasy I've read. Even the relatively light-hearted tone and the characterisations aren't precisely new. It's shallow, really -- by which I mean that I didn't really feel strongly drawn to the characters, or caught up in their danger. It did make me giggle, though and Eilonwy is a really fun character. I kind of wished Gwydion had been more fleshed out, too, because he's normally the kind of character I'd be drawn to, I think. I liked Gurgi's inclusion and development, too. The writing itself isn't that great -- noticed a lot of pitfalls that I long learned to avoid myself. Still, all this might improve as the series goes on.

      In summary, not great in depth, but fun to read.
    • 5/5
      Well-written, clever and amusing, a novel written in 1964 that has a modern tone and outlook built on a solid core of traditional fantasy. A delightful read.
    • 3/5
      When I was in the fourth grade, my teacher forced me to read this series because she wanted me to try different genres. I was so angry that I had to read something as stupid as fantasy, when all I really wanted to do was re-read the Little House books. However, I ended up loving this series and have thought on it with fondness all these years. I thought I would re-read it to see if it was as good as I thought when I was in fourth grade. While I enjoyed it this time, it was hard not to compare it to The Lord of the Rings because there are really so many similarities, and it was left wanting in that comparison. So I guess you could call it The Lord of the Rings -lite. My fourth grade self would have given it 5 stars... my adult self gives it a 3 because I liked it but I didn't love it. I love the characters, and love the fact that there is a pronounciaton guide at the back of the book for their names. Kind of wish I would have discovered that sooner. There was excitement and adventure, good guys and evil guys, an interesting world, and growth in characters. I highly recommend this series to upper elementary/lower middle school students.
    • 4/5
      Assistant Pig-Keeper, Taran, loses the truth telling pig Hen Wen as an evil king sets out to destroy the land; Taran sets off on an adventure to warn the kingdom and find Hen Wen. The characters in this book are well defined and vivid, such as Gurgi a half man, half animal creature that desires attention and loving. The story flows well, with a plot that is easy to follow, yet complex enough to keep you wanting more. The book takes place in a mythical land that is magical but still believable. Overall this book would be great in a public library setting.
    • 3/5
      I never read this book or this series growing up. The Disney movie 'The Black Cauldron' was always something that I enjoyed and a girl I met freshman year of college told me that if I liked 'The Chronicles of Narnia' that I would like this. I did like it. It took me a little while to get into it, mainly because the writing just didn't catch me. However, I really love the story and the characters!
    • 4/5
      I bought this book for my daughter. She really loved "Harry Potter" and tends to reread the series over and over. I remember really liking this book when I was a kid, although I'm not sure I read the entire collection. My daughter was not at all interested, so I decided to reread it myself. The funny thing is I didn't remember anything about the story, other than I liked it. I enjoyed rereading it, though it's clear that the first book is mainly an introduction to some of the main characters. I will probably read the next book in the series out of curiosity.
    • 5/5
      Approved for the dude.
    • 5/5
      Book 1 of 5 of The Chronicles of Prydain Series. Lloyd Alexander has used Welsh mythology as inspiration for creating Prydain, an imaginary Celtic land. His main characters are endearing, Taran, who longs to be a hero and dreams of heroic deeds, and is actually an Assistant Pig Keeper to Hen Wen, an oracular pig belonging to Dallben the enchanter who is 379 years old. The first sentence sums up Taran’s current life ‘Taran wanted to make a sword; but Coll, charged with the practical side of his education, decided on horseshoes’ (Alexander, 1966, p. 1). After Hen Wen escapes Taran sets off after him. He meets up with Gwydion, the great warrior prince, with whom he must journey to warn the sons of Don about the evil Horned King’s coming attack. On the way his band increases to include the headstrong Eilonwy of the red-gold hair, Gurgi who is part man, part beast and Fflewddur the bard. ‘When fantasy becomes the battleground of Good and Evil, as it does in the novels of such writers as Lloyd Alexander ... we call it high fantasy - a developed poetic art from which gives meaning to life, enhancing the primary or real world, leading to the solution of problems and the development of characters to maturity’ (Saxby & Winch, 1994, p. 273). And these battles do develop the character of Taran, showing him qualities within himself that he didn’t know he possessed. ‘Throughout the book runs the muted theme of the hero, the champion of good against the forces of evil - not just the external manifestations of it, but the evil within oneself - the hero who emerges triumphant at the end’ (Sutherland, 1997, p. 234). At the back of the book the author has provided a Prydain pronunciation guide which is very useful, it would have been more useful if it had appeared at the beginning of the book, rather than finding it when I had finished the book. An excellent book that I really enjoyed and became involved with.
    • 5/5
      A great children's fantasy that holds up well. Thinking I should go back and reread the whole series now.
    • 4/5
      The Chronicles of Prydain, while written for children, is a series of books I love and re-read at least once a year. In the first book, we meet Taran, the central figure in the series, and share in his experiences as he begins his way down the path to manhood.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this book. First time reading a Lloyd Alexander book. I did find that there seemed to be always something happening to the characters and that the story seemed to jog a long at a fairly fast pace to the detriment of character building. Part of me really wished that the author had tried to build a world behind the story in the same vain as Tolkien. Having said that, there was a lot of similarities between The Lord of the Rings and The Book of Three in my opinion. All in all a good read.
    • 4/5
      I have read this book several times before. This review is from reading it to my son. It is still a classic and we both enjoyed reading it greatly. Taran is every boy who craves adventure. The characters are as lively as ever. There is quite a bit of humour in the tales too, especially from Gurgi and Fflewddur Fflam. Some of the names are a bit of a mouthful for an English speaker but they are generally fine. I am enjoying my return to the world of Prydain.
    • 4/5
      I've read this many times. I just finished reading it out loud to Dave, my partner, and really enjoyed it. It's possibly my least favorite of the series, but is still a great book.
    • 3/5
      Reading this as a child, I remember being enthralled. Like many things seen through a veil of years, it appeared much rosier before I drew back the curtain. Still, catching up again with Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper of Caer Dalben was an enjoyable adventure. Over too soon, and with fewer details than I recalled, but still enjoyable.
    • 1/5
      I made my first attempt at reading this book sometime during my primary school years, got about a chapter and a half through, gave up in disgust. Rediscovering it in my high school years, and remembering other books that I had initially not been able to finish, but had liked in the end, I decided to give it another go. Bah. Same problem. Given that it had won a Newberry Medal, and that a number of people had recommended it, I gave it another try.Grrr. One of the least sympathetic main characters I've come across in a childrens/YA novel. The kid is inconsistent, selfish, and poorly characterised. It is impossible to tell what age he is, and his reactions to events are so chaotic that the only justification for what he does would appear to be the movement of the plot in the correct direction. This problem with characterisation is not quite so bad with the others, but they are also less detailed, so it is harder to tell. The 'beast' Gurgi is all about food, with a side order of loyalty. The bard is all about learning that others will respect you for who you are, if only you stop and let them know. The female character, who may or may not be a princess, depending on which section of the story you are reading at the time seems to oscillate between being the sulky helpless character who doesn't want the help that she obviously needs, and a perfectly capable person whos abilities are being ignored. Even allowing for the age group that the book is presumably aimed at, this characterisation was unacceptable.I'm not so sure about the plot, either. It may be that this book was a leader in its genre, and that there have been many derivative knock-offs which have influenced my expectations, but none of the surprises were particularly surprising, and the sequence of the plot seemed very regular - each chapter about the same length, the same build up. Or maybe it just felt like that because after the first 1/3 of the book I was just finishing it through sheer bloody mindedness - I'd made the effort, and damned if I were ever going to do it again.In general, when I read something written for children that I have this negative a reaction to, I put it down to being mainly due to me not being the target demographic - like the Lemony Snickett's 'Unfortunate Events' series, where I read one, and have sworn never to read another, because of the sheer awfulness of the writing and the plot. Here though, I have the evidence of my younger self that tells me that this is not the case - the approximately 11 year old me didn't manage to finish it, and had the sense to declare this and give up.And to suggest that this problem may be common to the author, rather than specific to the book, I also remember having a copy of 'The Black Cauldron', which I never read, and at that age I didn't care particularly much about reading series in sequence. 2/10
    • 5/5
      Similar in theme to Lord of the Rings, but geared towards younger readers. A wonderful journey that takes you along for the ride.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyed Coll's three foundations of learning: see much, study much, suffer much.