The Chronicles of Prydain
Encyclopedia
The Chronicles of Prydain (sometimes given as The Prydain Chronicles) is a five-volume series of children's fantasy
novels by author Lloyd Alexander
. First published from 1964–1968, the stories detail the adventures of a young man named Taran
, who is awarded the honor of Assistant Pig-Keeper but dreams of being a grand hero, and his companions Princess Eilonwy
, Fflewddur Fflam
the wandering bard and king, a feral yet gentle creature called Gurgi
, and a dwarf named Doli. Since a recurring facet of the series is the progression from youth to maturity, particularly prominent in Taran Wanderer, the series could be considered a bildungsroman
.
In the early 2000s, an unabridged audiobook production of the series was produced by Listening Library, a division of Random House, narrated by James Langton, with author's notes read by Lloyd Alexander himself.
The Black Cauldron
, an animated film based on the books, was released by The Walt Disney Company
in 1985.
mythology
, particularly the Mabinogion
. The novels are not, however, retellings of those myths, a point Alexander himself makes in an author's note for The Book of Three: stories have been conflated, and characters have been changed in both role and motive, so a student of Welsh culture should be prepared as Arawn
becomes the books' dark archenemy and Gwydion
's negative traits are replaced with unclouded heroism.
Appropriately, the author's note also reveals the geography is ultimately derived from Wales, though Alexander notes that Prydain is separate from Wales both in physical geography and history.
The series was originally conceived as a trilogy, with the original titles being: "The Battle of Trees," "The Lion with the Steady Hand," and "Little Gwion." It was then changed to a series of 4 books, with "The High King of Prydain" being the 4th volume. However, the editor felt that something was missing in between 3rd and 4th volumes, so "Taran Wanderer" was written one month after "The Castle of Llyr" was published.
The stories that are now collected in The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain
actually were published in three different volumes: two picture books and one short story collection. They act as backstories which fill in gaps for minor characters.
An assistant pig-keeper, Taran, and his companions race to defeat the warlord of Arawn.
Taran and the companions struggle to destroy an evil enchanted cauldron.
Eilonwy is kidnapped and Taran leads a band to rescue her.
Taran, with his companion Gurgi, begins a bittersweet search for his parentage.
Taran and the companions join the rest of Prydain in a final struggle to defeat Arawn.
The Black Crochan is the formal name of the Black Cauldron, an iron kettle which is a significant plot device in Lloyd Alexander
's fantasy novel series The Chronicles of Prydain.
The original purpose of the Cauldron is never made entirely clear, but it is known that once it was the property of the three enchantresses, Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch
. As they explain to Taran
, the protagonist of the series, they were the ones who gave it to Arawn
Death-Lord, when he was a young man. At what price he purchased the kettle from them, the reader never learns.
Once he has the kettle in his possession, Arawn uses it to make an army of deathless warriors known as the Cauldron-Born
. He takes the bodies of dead warriors from their graves and throws them into the cauldron, which reanimates them. Not being truly alive, they cannot be killed by ordinary means, and they are forced to blindly obey their master.
In the novel named for the Cauldron, Taran and his companions form a great alliance to find and destroy the Cauldron once and for all. They discover that the enchantresses have taken it back from Arawn, and after some negotiations, the friends are able to purchase it in exchange for a brooch which had belonged to their fallen comrade, Adaon
. As part of the bargain, the enchantresses explain how to destroy the Cauldron—a living man must sacrifice his own life and throw himself into the Cauldron.
Ellidyr
, Prince of Pen-Llarcau and one of the allies in the quest, takes a mortal wound during the final battle. Realizing this is his only chance to redeem himself for all the wrongs he has done the companions, and knowing that his life is already forfeit, he flings himself inside the kettle and causes it to shatter. This selfless act does not destroy the Cauldron-Born who already exist, but at least Arawn is unable to add to their number.
In the fifth book in the series, The High King
, Taran inadvertently discovers that there is one thing which can destroy the Cauldron-Born forever—the magical sword Dyrnwyn. He plunges it into the heart of the warrior bearing down upon him and, in so doing, kills not only his own adversary but all of the other Cauldron-Born in one fell swoop.
Like many other elements of the Prydain Chronicles, the Black Crochan is based on elements of Welsh mythology, specifically events recounted in The Mabinogion.
Following previous events, the theme of maturity continues. This chapter follows The Companions as they set out to discover Eilonwy's origins. It is soon discovered the red-gold haired beauty is the last in a long line of Sorceresses. Achren, having survived the events of "The Book of Three" places her servant, Magg, into service within the royal house when she hears that the lost Princess of Llyr, the self same Eilonwy, is to return home...to marry the youthful, exuberant and yet inept Prince Rhun. One night, Magg carries out his Mistress' bidding and kidnaps the Princess, bringing her to the former Queen. Taran and Prince Rhun set forward, along with other familiar faces, such as the lovable bard/king Fflam, to seek out the Princess and rescue her, even if it means her marriage to the Prince.
. Prydain is a magical land engaged in a series of battles with its neighbor, Annuvin
, the Land of Death. It is the setting for four of the five books in the series.
Once ruled over by the evil Queen Achren
, Prydain was liberated by the Sons of Don, who established a new government at Caer Dathyl
. The High King
rules over all the land, seconded by his war leader, with many subject kings ruling the various territories of Prydain. Only the Free Commots
, a land of craftsmen who answer only to the High King, are outside any subject king's jurisdiction.
Significant locations in Prydain include Caer Dallben
, the farm homestead of the enchanter Dallben
, Caer Colur, the ancestral home of the House of Llyr
, Spiral Castle
, Achren's fortress, and the Marshes of Morva
, a haunted swamp that is home to the witches Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch
.
Underneath and within Prydrain is the kingdom of the Fair Folk
, a diminutive supernatural race that mostly keeps to its own affairs. The Fair Folk have no love for the Death-Lord Arawn
however and occasionally aid the humans of Prydain against him.
In addition to the races of men and Fair Folk, Prydain is home to the Sons of Don and their descendants (who are ostensibly related to the gods of Welsh mythology
, though this is never overtly stated in the series). Other varieties of creatures such as the undead Cauldron-Born
, the monstrous birdlike Gwythaints
, and oddities such as the furry, human-like Gurgi
(whose race is undetermined) also reside in Prydain.
(for The High King) and a Newbery Honor (for The Black Cauldron), the chronicles are recognized as a valuable contribution to the canon of classic children's literature. For many years since their publication The Chronicles of Prydain have held their own in sales and readership and may be comparable to other famous children's fantasy series such as The Chronicles of Narnia
. Ruth Hill Viguers writes in A Critical History of Children's Literature that, “Like most good fantasies, the books are related to humanity; the characters have failings but also the potential for greatness.”
is a collection of six short stories (newer copies including eight) by Lloyd Alexander. Although first published in 1973, after the five novels that comprise the Chronicles of Prydain, these short stories take place before the events of the books that preceded them. The stories were written by Alexander due to the overwhelming demand for more stories from fans of the books at the time.
Children's literature scholar Michael O. Tunnell published a reference guide/compendium on the Prydain Chronicles entitiled The Prydain Companion in 2003. The encyclopedia lists and analyzes the major characters, locations, etc., as well as insight gained by Tunnell's interviews with author Alexander.
, an animated film based primarily on the first two books, but also on the series as a whole. The film cost $40 million and was poorly received by audiences, failing to recoup its costs. Critics found the film "pretty, but confusing and overly somber" due to its dark nature, although Roger Ebert gave it a positive review. Upon reviewing the completed project, studio head Jeffrey Katzenberg
was dismayed by the product and the animators ultimately felt it was lacking "the humor, pathos, and the fantasy which had been so strong in Lloyd Alexander's work. The story had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it was heartbreaking to see such wonderful material wasted."
Alexander's reaction to the movie was twofold, stating, "First, I have to say, there is no resemblance between the movie and the book. Having said that, the movie in itself, purely as a movie, I found to be very enjoyable."
The movie rights to the Prydain series remain in the hands of the Disney Corporation. However, as of February 2011, no plans for a revival of the series have been announced.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novels by author Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...
. First published from 1964–1968, the stories detail the adventures of a young man named Taran
Taran (character)
Taran is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain series, as well as in the film and game named after the second novel, The Black Cauldron.-Profile:...
, who is awarded the honor of Assistant Pig-Keeper but dreams of being a grand hero, and his companions Princess Eilonwy
Princess Eilonwy
Princess Eilonwy is a fictional character in Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain and wife of High King Taran in the Chronicles of Prydain and also appears in Disney's 1985 animated film The Black Cauldron...
, Fflewddur Fflam
Fflewddur Fflam
Fflewddur Fflam, son of Godo, is a cantrev lord in the fictional country of Prydain in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. He is referred to as a King, but it is made clear that he is a very minor king of a tiny kingdom at best, much less important than the High King who rules Prydain. His...
the wandering bard and king, a feral yet gentle creature called Gurgi
Gurgi
Gurgi is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain, the series of fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander. Gurgi is the hero Taran's faithful companion, appearing in all five books.- Profile :...
, and a dwarf named Doli. Since a recurring facet of the series is the progression from youth to maturity, particularly prominent in Taran Wanderer, the series could be considered a bildungsroman
Bildungsroman
In literary criticism, bildungsroman or coming-of-age story is a literary genre which focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood , and in which character change is thus extremely important...
.
In the early 2000s, an unabridged audiobook production of the series was produced by Listening Library, a division of Random House, narrated by James Langton, with author's notes read by Lloyd Alexander himself.
The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron (film)
The Black Cauldron is a 1985 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and originally released to theatres on July 24, 1985...
, an animated film based on the books, was released by The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
in 1985.
Inspiration and development
Thematically the novels draw upon WelshWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
mythology
Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology, the remnants of the mythology of the pre-Christian Britons, has come down to us in much altered form in medieval Welsh manuscripts such as the Red Book of Hergest, the White Book of Rhydderch, the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin....
, particularly the Mabinogion
Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is the title given to a collection of eleven prose stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The tales draw on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, international folktale motifs, and early medieval historical traditions...
. The novels are not, however, retellings of those myths, a point Alexander himself makes in an author's note for The Book of Three: stories have been conflated, and characters have been changed in both role and motive, so a student of Welsh culture should be prepared as Arawn
Arawn
In Welsh mythology, Arawn was the king of the otherworld realm of Annwn, appearing prominently in the first branch, and alluded to in the fourth. In later tradition, the role of king of Annwn was largely attributed to the Welsh psychopomp, Gwyn ap Nudd...
becomes the books' dark archenemy and Gwydion
Gwydion
Gwydion fab Dôn is a magician, hero and trickster of Welsh mythology, appearing most prominently in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, which focuses largely on his relationship with his young nephew, Lleu Llaw Gyffes...
's negative traits are replaced with unclouded heroism.
Appropriately, the author's note also reveals the geography is ultimately derived from Wales, though Alexander notes that Prydain is separate from Wales both in physical geography and history.
The series was originally conceived as a trilogy, with the original titles being: "The Battle of Trees," "The Lion with the Steady Hand," and "Little Gwion." It was then changed to a series of 4 books, with "The High King of Prydain" being the 4th volume. However, the editor felt that something was missing in between 3rd and 4th volumes, so "Taran Wanderer" was written one month after "The Castle of Llyr" was published.
The stories that are now collected in The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain
The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain
The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain is a collection of six short stories by Lloyd Alexander. Although first published in 1973, after the five novels that comprise The Chronicles of Prydain, these short stories take place before the events of the books that preceded them...
actually were published in three different volumes: two picture books and one short story collection. They act as backstories which fill in gaps for minor characters.
The Chronicles of Prydain
- 1.The Book of ThreeThe Book of Three (novel)The Book of Three is the first of Lloyd Alexander's five-part novel series The Chronicles of Prydain . Inspired by Welsh mythology, it follows the adventures of Taran, a boy in the care of the enchanter Dallben, as he enters manhood while fighting the forces of the evil Arawn Death-Lord...
(1964)
An assistant pig-keeper, Taran, and his companions race to defeat the warlord of Arawn.
- 2.The Black CauldronThe Black Cauldron (novel)The Black Cauldron is a 1965 fantasy novel, the second book in Lloyd Alexander's five-part novel series The Chronicles of Prydain . The story centers on the adventures of Taran, an Assistant Pig-Keeper in the magical land of Prydain, as he joins in a quest to capture the eponymous vessel, a...
(1965) — a 1966 Newbery Honor book.
Taran and the companions struggle to destroy an evil enchanted cauldron.
- 3.The Castle of LlyrThe Castle of LlyrThe Castle of Llyr is the third volume in the children's fantasy series Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, first published in 1966.Taran continues his adventures and encounters new friends and old enemies.- Plot :...
(1966)
Eilonwy is kidnapped and Taran leads a band to rescue her.
- 4.Taran WandererTaran WandererTaran Wanderer is the fourth book in the Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. It tells of Taran's search for his lineage through which he encounters many different people who each help to shape Taran as he learns about who he truly is. It is the only book in the series in which...
(1967)
Taran, with his companion Gurgi, begins a bittersweet search for his parentage.
- 5.The High KingThe High KingThe High King is the last book in the Chronicles of Prydain fantasy series of books by Lloyd Alexander. It was awarded the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1969.-Plot overview:...
(1968) - Winner of the 1969 Newbery MedalNewbery MedalThe John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
.
Taran and the companions join the rest of Prydain in a final struggle to defeat Arawn.
The Book of Three
- TaranTaran (character)Taran is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain series, as well as in the film and game named after the second novel, The Black Cauldron.-Profile:...
of Caer DallbenCaer DallbenCaer Dallben is a cottage farm within the lands of Prydain and the starting point for each book of Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain. It is also the setting for the series' final chapter....
, an assistant pig-keeper of unknown birth - Princess EilonwyPrincess EilonwyPrincess Eilonwy is a fictional character in Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain and wife of High King Taran in the Chronicles of Prydain and also appears in Disney's 1985 animated film The Black Cauldron...
, a young enchantress - Fflewddur FflamFflewddur FflamFflewddur Fflam, son of Godo, is a cantrev lord in the fictional country of Prydain in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. He is referred to as a King, but it is made clear that he is a very minor king of a tiny kingdom at best, much less important than the High King who rules Prydain. His...
, an unofficial bard and king - GurgiGurgiGurgi is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain, the series of fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander. Gurgi is the hero Taran's faithful companion, appearing in all five books.- Profile :...
, a half-man/half-animal creature - Doli the dwarf
- Hen WenHen WenHen Wen is a white sow featured in Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain. She is an oracular pig - that is, she has the ability to prophesy about future events and reveal hidden information...
, the oracular pig - DallbenDallbenDallben is an important character in Lloyd Alexander's children's series The Chronicles of Prydain.-Profile:Dallben is described as an ancient man with a long white beard. He lives on the farm known as Caer Dallben, where he acts as protector of Coll's oracular pig, Hen Wen. He also is the...
, a sorcerer - Lord GwydionGwydionGwydion fab Dôn is a magician, hero and trickster of Welsh mythology, appearing most prominently in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, which focuses largely on his relationship with his young nephew, Lleu Llaw Gyffes...
, the High Prince - CollColl (character)Coll is a fictional character from The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. In the books, he occupies his time with farming, though prior to that he was a warrior...
, Dallben's companion - The Horned KingHorned KingThe Horned King is a fictional character from the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain, and in the film The Black Cauldron by Disney ....
, the war lord of Arawn - High King Math, son of Mathonwy
- King Eiddileg of the Fair FolkFair FolkThis article is for the fictional race in the fiction of Lloyd Alexander. For the mythological Fair Folk, see Fairy.The Fair Folk are a race of supernatural beings in The Chronicles of Prydain, a series of children's fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander...
- Arawn Death-Lord
- Queen AchrenAchrenAchren is a fictional character and villainess in the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain, written by Lloyd Alexander.-Profile:In the novels, Achren was once Queen of Prydain, and ruled many years as a harsh and vengeful tyrant, both as ruler and then as the Death-lord Arawn's consort...
, a sorceress - Medwyn, a NoahNoahNoah was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the tenth and last of the antediluvian Patriarchs. The biblical story of Noah is contained in chapters 6–9 of the book of Genesis, where he saves his family and representatives of all animals from the flood by constructing an ark...
-like protector of animals
The Black Cauldron
- King Smoit
- King Morgant, son of MadocMadocMadoc or Madog ab Owain Gwynedd was, according to folklore, a Welsh prince who sailed to America in 1170, over three hundred years before Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492. According to the story, he was a son of Owain Gwynedd who took to the sea to flee internecine violence at home...
- KawKaw (character)Kaw is a character in The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. He first appears in the second book of the series, The Black Cauldron, and plays a role in each of the following books...
, a crow - Prince EllidyrEllidyrEllidyr is a fictional character in the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. He plays a tragic, pivotal role in the second book of the series, The Black Cauldron....
, son of Pen-Llarcau - GwystylGwystylGwystyl is a character in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy Chronicles of Prydain book series. He first appears as one of the Fair Folk in the second novel of the series, The Black Cauldron...
, a Fair Folk - Orddu, Orwen and OrgochOrddu, Orwen and OrgochOrddu, Orwen, and Orgoch are fictional characters in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series.They are three witches who live alone in the Marshes of Morva...
, three fatesMoiraeThe Moirae, Moerae or Moirai , in Greek mythology, were the white-robed incarnations of destiny . Their number became fixed at three...
-like witches - AdaonAdaonAdaon is the son of the Chief Bard Taliesin, in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. He is featured solely in the second book, The Black Cauldron, although he is mentioned in the third and fifth books. He is a gifted minstrel, though not yet an official bard, a...
, son of TaliesinTaliesinTaliesin was an early British poet of the post-Roman period whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin...
The Black Crochan is the formal name of the Black Cauldron, an iron kettle which is a significant plot device in Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...
's fantasy novel series The Chronicles of Prydain.
The original purpose of the Cauldron is never made entirely clear, but it is known that once it was the property of the three enchantresses, Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch
Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch
Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch are fictional characters in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series.They are three witches who live alone in the Marshes of Morva...
. As they explain to Taran
Taran (character)
Taran is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain series, as well as in the film and game named after the second novel, The Black Cauldron.-Profile:...
, the protagonist of the series, they were the ones who gave it to Arawn
Arawn
In Welsh mythology, Arawn was the king of the otherworld realm of Annwn, appearing prominently in the first branch, and alluded to in the fourth. In later tradition, the role of king of Annwn was largely attributed to the Welsh psychopomp, Gwyn ap Nudd...
Death-Lord, when he was a young man. At what price he purchased the kettle from them, the reader never learns.
Once he has the kettle in his possession, Arawn uses it to make an army of deathless warriors known as the Cauldron-Born
Cauldron-Born
In Lloyd Alexander's series of fantasy books The Chronicles of Prydain, the Cauldron-Born are a race of deathless warriors in the service of Arawn, Death-Lord of Annuvin.- Origins :...
. He takes the bodies of dead warriors from their graves and throws them into the cauldron, which reanimates them. Not being truly alive, they cannot be killed by ordinary means, and they are forced to blindly obey their master.
In the novel named for the Cauldron, Taran and his companions form a great alliance to find and destroy the Cauldron once and for all. They discover that the enchantresses have taken it back from Arawn, and after some negotiations, the friends are able to purchase it in exchange for a brooch which had belonged to their fallen comrade, Adaon
Adaon
Adaon is the son of the Chief Bard Taliesin, in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. He is featured solely in the second book, The Black Cauldron, although he is mentioned in the third and fifth books. He is a gifted minstrel, though not yet an official bard, a...
. As part of the bargain, the enchantresses explain how to destroy the Cauldron—a living man must sacrifice his own life and throw himself into the Cauldron.
Ellidyr
Ellidyr
Ellidyr is a fictional character in the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. He plays a tragic, pivotal role in the second book of the series, The Black Cauldron....
, Prince of Pen-Llarcau and one of the allies in the quest, takes a mortal wound during the final battle. Realizing this is his only chance to redeem himself for all the wrongs he has done the companions, and knowing that his life is already forfeit, he flings himself inside the kettle and causes it to shatter. This selfless act does not destroy the Cauldron-Born who already exist, but at least Arawn is unable to add to their number.
In the fifth book in the series, The High King
The High King
The High King is the last book in the Chronicles of Prydain fantasy series of books by Lloyd Alexander. It was awarded the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1969.-Plot overview:...
, Taran inadvertently discovers that there is one thing which can destroy the Cauldron-Born forever—the magical sword Dyrnwyn. He plunges it into the heart of the warrior bearing down upon him and, in so doing, kills not only his own adversary but all of the other Cauldron-Born in one fell swoop.
Like many other elements of the Prydain Chronicles, the Black Crochan is based on elements of Welsh mythology, specifically events recounted in The Mabinogion.
The Castle of Llyr
- Prince RhunPrince RhunPrince Rhun is a fictional character in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series. He is featured prominently in the latter half of the five-book series.-Profile:...
, a well-meaning but inept young man - GlewGlew (character)Glew is a fictional character in The Castle of Llyr, the third book in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy series, The Chronicles of Prydain. He is discovered by accident when the companions fall into and are trapped in an underground cavern on the Isle of Mona....
, a self-centered giant - King Rhuddlum, Rhun's father
- Queen Teleria, Rhun's mother
- LlyanLlyanLlyan is a fictional character introduced in book three of Lloyd Alexander's The Prydain Chronicles, The Castle of Llyr.Llyan is described as a large female cat, roughly larger than a horse, with orange fur. Her size does not diminish her natural agility or speed, however...
, a horse-sized cat - MaggMaggMagg is a character in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy Chronicles of Prydain book series. He appears as the secondary villain in the third novel of the series, The Castle of Llyr. He also makes an appearance in the fifth and final novel, The High King.- Description :Through hard work, Magg has become...
, Chief Steward to King Rhuddlum and assistant to AchrenAchrenAchren is a fictional character and villainess in the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain, written by Lloyd Alexander.-Profile:In the novels, Achren was once Queen of Prydain, and ruled many years as a harsh and vengeful tyrant, both as ruler and then as the Death-lord Arawn's consort...
Following previous events, the theme of maturity continues. This chapter follows The Companions as they set out to discover Eilonwy's origins. It is soon discovered the red-gold haired beauty is the last in a long line of Sorceresses. Achren, having survived the events of "The Book of Three" places her servant, Magg, into service within the royal house when she hears that the lost Princess of Llyr, the self same Eilonwy, is to return home...to marry the youthful, exuberant and yet inept Prince Rhun. One night, Magg carries out his Mistress' bidding and kidnaps the Princess, bringing her to the former Queen. Taran and Prince Rhun set forward, along with other familiar faces, such as the lovable bard/king Fflam, to seek out the Princess and rescue her, even if it means her marriage to the Prince.
Taran Wanderer
- Aeddan, a farmer
- Lord Goryon
- Lord Gast, his rival
- Morda, a sorcerer
- Dorath, a bandit
- Gloff, a bandit
- Craddoc, a Shepherd, who seems to be Taran's father
- Llonio, Son of Llonwen, a gatherer
- Annlaw Clay-Shaper, an expert potter
- Hevydd the Smith, an expert metalsmith
- Dwyvach the Weaver-Woman, an expert weaver
- Drudwas, Son of Pebyr
- Llassar, Son of Drudwas, a struggling farmer
The High King
- King PryderiPryderiPryderi fab Pwyll is a prominent figure in Welsh mythology, the son of Pwyll and Rhiannon, and king of Dyfed following his father's death. He is the only character to appear in all Four Branches of the Mabinogi, although the size of his role varies from tale to tale...
, son of Pwyll - TaliesinTaliesinTaliesin was an early British poet of the post-Roman period whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin...
, the chief bard
Setting
Prydain's geography, culture, and names are based on ancient Wales, especially the tales of the MabinogionMabinogion
The Mabinogion is the title given to a collection of eleven prose stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The tales draw on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, international folktale motifs, and early medieval historical traditions...
. Prydain is a magical land engaged in a series of battles with its neighbor, Annuvin
Annwn
Annwn or Annwfn was the Otherworld in Welsh mythology. Ruled by Arawn, or much later by Gwyn ap Nudd, it was essentially a world of delights and eternal youth where disease is absent and food is ever-abundant. It later became Christianised and identified with the land of souls that had departed...
, the Land of Death. It is the setting for four of the five books in the series.
Once ruled over by the evil Queen Achren
Achren
Achren is a fictional character and villainess in the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain, written by Lloyd Alexander.-Profile:In the novels, Achren was once Queen of Prydain, and ruled many years as a harsh and vengeful tyrant, both as ruler and then as the Death-lord Arawn's consort...
, Prydain was liberated by the Sons of Don, who established a new government at Caer Dathyl
Caer Dathyl (Prydain)
Caer Dathyl is the location from which the High King of Prydain ruled in the stories told in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. It was built by the Sons of Don in the north of Prydain, among the Eagle Mountains, intended to protect Prydain from further conquests by Arawn of Annuvin...
. The High King
High king
A high king is a king who holds a position of seniority over a group of other kings, without the title of Emperor; compare King of Kings.Rulers who have been termed "high king" include:...
rules over all the land, seconded by his war leader, with many subject kings ruling the various territories of Prydain. Only the Free Commots
Free Commots
The Free Commots are a region in the fictional country of Prydain in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy series, The Chronicles of Prydain. They are most prominently featured in the fourth novel, Taran Wanderer, where the protagonist of the series, Taran, does much of his maturing into...
, a land of craftsmen who answer only to the High King, are outside any subject king's jurisdiction.
Significant locations in Prydain include Caer Dallben
Caer Dallben
Caer Dallben is a cottage farm within the lands of Prydain and the starting point for each book of Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain. It is also the setting for the series' final chapter....
, the farm homestead of the enchanter Dallben
Dallben
Dallben is an important character in Lloyd Alexander's children's series The Chronicles of Prydain.-Profile:Dallben is described as an ancient man with a long white beard. He lives on the farm known as Caer Dallben, where he acts as protector of Coll's oracular pig, Hen Wen. He also is the...
, Caer Colur, the ancestral home of the House of Llyr
Llyr
Llŷr is a figure in Welsh mythology, the father of Brân, Brânwen and Manawydan by Penarddun. The Welsh Triads mention he was imprisoned by Euroswydd; the Second Branch of the Mabinogi names Euroswydd as the father of Penarddun's younger two sons, Nisien and Efnisien. Llŷr corresponds to Lir in...
, Spiral Castle
Spiral Castle
Spiral Castle was at one time the seat of power for the fictional land of Prydain. During the period of time covered by Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, it had become one of many strongholds under the influence of Arawn Death-Lord, personally administered by Queen Achren.The earliest story...
, Achren's fortress, and the Marshes of Morva
Marshes of Morva
The Marshes of Morva is a region in the fictional country of Prydain in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy series, The Chronicles of Prydain. It is most notable for being the home of the three Fates-like enchantresses, Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch.-Description:...
, a haunted swamp that is home to the witches Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch
Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch
Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch are fictional characters in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series.They are three witches who live alone in the Marshes of Morva...
.
Underneath and within Prydrain is the kingdom of the Fair Folk
Fair Folk
This article is for the fictional race in the fiction of Lloyd Alexander. For the mythological Fair Folk, see Fairy.The Fair Folk are a race of supernatural beings in The Chronicles of Prydain, a series of children's fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander...
, a diminutive supernatural race that mostly keeps to its own affairs. The Fair Folk have no love for the Death-Lord Arawn
Arawn
In Welsh mythology, Arawn was the king of the otherworld realm of Annwn, appearing prominently in the first branch, and alluded to in the fourth. In later tradition, the role of king of Annwn was largely attributed to the Welsh psychopomp, Gwyn ap Nudd...
however and occasionally aid the humans of Prydain against him.
In addition to the races of men and Fair Folk, Prydain is home to the Sons of Don and their descendants (who are ostensibly related to the gods of Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology, the remnants of the mythology of the pre-Christian Britons, has come down to us in much altered form in medieval Welsh manuscripts such as the Red Book of Hergest, the White Book of Rhydderch, the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin....
, though this is never overtly stated in the series). Other varieties of creatures such as the undead Cauldron-Born
Cauldron-Born
In Lloyd Alexander's series of fantasy books The Chronicles of Prydain, the Cauldron-Born are a race of deathless warriors in the service of Arawn, Death-Lord of Annuvin.- Origins :...
, the monstrous birdlike Gwythaints
Gwythaints
Gwythaints are fictional characters in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. They are a race of ferocious eagles under the command of Arawn Death-Lord, the primary villain of the series.-Description and origins:...
, and oddities such as the furry, human-like Gurgi
Gurgi
Gurgi is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain, the series of fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander. Gurgi is the hero Taran's faithful companion, appearing in all five books.- Profile :...
(whose race is undetermined) also reside in Prydain.
Reception
Having garnered both a Newbery MedalNewbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
(for The High King) and a Newbery Honor (for The Black Cauldron), the chronicles are recognized as a valuable contribution to the canon of classic children's literature. For many years since their publication The Chronicles of Prydain have held their own in sales and readership and may be comparable to other famous children's fantasy series such as The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven fantasy novels for children by C. S. Lewis. It is considered a classic of children's literature and is the author's best-known work, having sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages...
. Ruth Hill Viguers writes in A Critical History of Children's Literature that, “Like most good fantasies, the books are related to humanity; the characters have failings but also the potential for greatness.”
Supplementary works
The Foundling and Other Tales of PrydainThe Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain
The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain is a collection of six short stories by Lloyd Alexander. Although first published in 1973, after the five novels that comprise The Chronicles of Prydain, these short stories take place before the events of the books that preceded them...
is a collection of six short stories (newer copies including eight) by Lloyd Alexander. Although first published in 1973, after the five novels that comprise the Chronicles of Prydain, these short stories take place before the events of the books that preceded them. The stories were written by Alexander due to the overwhelming demand for more stories from fans of the books at the time.
Children's literature scholar Michael O. Tunnell published a reference guide/compendium on the Prydain Chronicles entitiled The Prydain Companion in 2003. The encyclopedia lists and analyzes the major characters, locations, etc., as well as insight gained by Tunnell's interviews with author Alexander.
Film adaption
In 1985, Walt Disney Productions released The Black CauldronThe Black Cauldron (film)
The Black Cauldron is a 1985 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and originally released to theatres on July 24, 1985...
, an animated film based primarily on the first two books, but also on the series as a whole. The film cost $40 million and was poorly received by audiences, failing to recoup its costs. Critics found the film "pretty, but confusing and overly somber" due to its dark nature, although Roger Ebert gave it a positive review. Upon reviewing the completed project, studio head Jeffrey Katzenberg
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Jeffrey Katzenberg is an American film producer and CEO of DreamWorks Animation. He is perhaps most famous for his period as chairman of The Walt Disney Company's film division, and for producing DreamWorks animated films such as Shrek, Antz, The Prince of Egypt, The Road to El Dorado, Chicken...
was dismayed by the product and the animators ultimately felt it was lacking "the humor, pathos, and the fantasy which had been so strong in Lloyd Alexander's work. The story had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it was heartbreaking to see such wonderful material wasted."
Alexander's reaction to the movie was twofold, stating, "First, I have to say, there is no resemblance between the movie and the book. Having said that, the movie in itself, purely as a movie, I found to be very enjoyable."
The movie rights to the Prydain series remain in the hands of the Disney Corporation. However, as of February 2011, no plans for a revival of the series have been announced.