Changes: The Book of Three (novel)

Latest revision as of 16:25, 27 April 2020

This page is about the novel. For the prophetic tome itself, see The Book of Three (fictional). For more book covers of The Book of Three novel, see Book Editions and Cover Illustrations.

The Book of Three is the first novel in The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. It introduces the half-dozen or so main protagonists of the series, including the young hero and heroine, and establishes the setting: a land of enchantment and war leaders, farmers and craftsmen, whose way of life is beset by evil forces from without and within.

This page contains spoilers. If you do not wish to be spoiled, do not read further.

Synopsis

Taran, a youthful Assistant Pig-Keeper, yearned for adventure. When the oracular pig Hen Wen escaped her enclosure at Caer Dallben, Taran pursued her. He met Prince Gwydion, before both were captured by the evil enchantress Achren.

Taran remained in the dungeons of Spiral Castle until a golden sphere dropped into his cell. Its owner was a chatty girl called Eilonwy, who helped Taran escape. On the way out, Eilonwy acquired an ancient sword with magical powers, called Dyrnwyn. As they fled the castle, it collapsed. Taran, assuming Gwydion had been in the next cell, had asked Eilonwy to free his neighbour; this turned out to be Fflewddur Fflam, an aspiring bard of the harp. Taran and his new friends mourned Gwydion as dead.

The three journeyed onwards, opting to relinquish the search for Hen Wen in favor of warning Caer Dathyl of the advance of the armies of the Horned King. Gurgi, a "shaggy what-is-it" whom Taran had met earlier with Gwydion, rejoined the party as guide and look-out.

In the course of their travels, the Companions met Medwyn, a patriarchal protector of animals who healed Gurgi's injury and set the group on their way. Soon they stumbled into the realm of the Fair Folk, and managed to persuade the grumbly King Eiddileg to let them go. Gurgi found Hen Wen, and the group gained a gruff dwarf guide called Doli. On the way to Caer Dathyl, Taran rescued a wounded Gwythaint Fledgling and nursed it back to health, despite Doli's warnings of treachery by the deadly messenger bird. It soon escaped, followed by the disappearance of Hen Wen.

The armies of the Horned King approached Caer Dathyl ahead of the companions. Taran tried to gallop through the marching forces but aroused the attention of the Horned King himself. Desperate to save himself and Eilonwy, Taran tried to draw Dyrnwyn, but was magically scorched in the attempt. A man appeared, spoke an unintelligible word, and the Horned King burned to ash and was swallowed by the earth.

When Taran regained consciousness under Eilonwy's care, Gwydion explained that he had been moved to another place of torture, called Oeth-Anoeth, before the collapse of Spiral Castle, which had fallen with Eilonwy's removal of the enchanted sword Dyrnwyn. Gwydion now carried the blade. The Prince of Don further explained that the Gwythaint Fledgling had led him to Taran, and from Hen Wen he had learned the Horned King's secret name, the utterance of which had destroyed the evil champion. All of the companions were given gifts as a reward for their efforts, and Eilonwy and Gurgi came to stay at Caer Dallben.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+''This page is about the novel. For the prophetic tome itself, see [[The Book of Three (fictional)]].''
+''For more book covers of'' The Book of Three ''novel, see [[Book Editions and Cover Illustrations: Part 1|Book Editions and Cover Illustrations]].''
+'''''The Book of Three''''' is the first novel in ''[[Chronicles of Prydain|The Chronicles of Prydain]]'' series by [[Lloyd Alexander]]. It introduces the half-dozen or so main protagonists of the series, including the young hero and heroine, and establishes the setting: a land of enchantment and war leaders, farmers and craftsmen, whose way of life is beset by evil forces from without and within.
+[[File:Book_of_Three_Flip.jpg|left|237px]][[File:BookofThree1stEdition.jpg|right|257px]]
 {{spoiler}}
-[[File:The_book_of_three.jpg|thumb]]''This is about the novel. For the fictional tome see [[Book Of Three (fictional)|Book of Three]].''
+==Synopsis==
-'''The Book of Three''' is the first novel in the Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander.
+[[Taran]], a youthful Assistant Pig-Keeper, yearned for adventure. When the oracular pig [[Hen Wen]] escaped her enclosure at [[Caer Dallben]], Taran pursued her. He met [[Prince Gwydion]], before both were captured by the evil enchantress [[Achren]].
-==Plot==
-[[Taran]], a young Assistant Pig-Keeper, yearns for adventure. When the oracular pig [[Hen Wen]] escapes her enclosure at [[Caer Dallben]], Taran goes after her. He then meets [[Lord Gwydion Son of Don|Prince Gwydion]], before they are both captured by the evil enchantress [[Achren]].
-Taran is thrown in the dungeons of [[Spiral Castle]], and remains there until a golden [[Princess Eilonwy's bauble|bauble]] drops into his cell. Its owner is a girl called [[Princess Eilonwy|Eilonwy]], who helps Taran and [[Fflewddur Fflam]] escape the dungeons, the latter by accident - Taran, assuming Gwydion would be in the dungeons as well, ask Eilonwy to free his neighbour. On the way out, Eilonwy acquired an old sword with magical powers, called [[Dyrnwyn]]. When they get out of the tower, it collapses; later it is revealed that the removal of Dyrnwyn from the castle caused the collapse.Taran believes Gwydion to be dead.
+Taran remained in the dungeons of [[Spiral Castle]] until a golden [[Princess Eilonwy's bauble|sphere]] dropped into his cell. Its owner was a chatty girl called [[Princess Eilonwy|Eilonwy]], who helped Taran escape. On the way out, Eilonwy acquired an ancient sword with magical powers, called [[Dyrnwyn]]. As they fled the castle, it collapsed. Taran, assuming Gwydion had been in the next cell, had asked Eilonwy to free his neighbour; this turned out to be [[Fflewddur Fflam]], an aspiring bard of the harp. Taran and his new friends mourned Gwydion as dead.
-The three then journey onwards, still searching for Hen Wen. [[Gurgi]], who Taran met earlier with Prince Gwydion, rejoins the party and stays with them.
+The three journeyed onwards, opting to relinquish the search for Hen Wen in favor of warning [[Caer Dathyl]] of the advance of the armies of the [[Horned King]]. [[Gurgi]], a "shaggy what-is-it" whom Taran had met earlier with Gwydion, rejoined the party as guide and look-out.
-In the path of their travels, they stumble accidentally into the realm of the Fair Folk, but manage to persuade the king to let them go. Gurgi finds Hen Wen in the kingdom, and they gain a dwarf guide called [[Doli]].
+In the course of their travels, the [[Companions]] met [[Medwyn]], a patriarchal protector of animals who healed Gurgi's injury and set the group on their way. Soon they stumbled into the realm of the [[Fair Folk]], and managed to persuade the grumbly [[King Eiddileg]] to let them go. Gurgi found Hen Wen, and the group gained a gruff dwarf guide called [[Doli]]. On the way to Caer Dathyl, Taran rescued a wounded [[Gwythaint Fledgling]] and nursed it back to health, despite Doli's warnings of treachery by the deadly messenger bird. It soon escaped, followed by the disappearance of Hen Wen.
+[[File:The_book_of_three.jpg|235px|left]][[File:Book-of-Three2.jpg|right|235px]]
-They then head back towards Caer Dallben, to warn them of the approach of the [[Horned King]]'s armies. However, the armies arrive ahead of them, and Taran fights the Horned King himself, with Dyrnwyn, but is burned when he draws the sword. In the end, the king is struck down by Gwydion.
+The armies of the Horned King approached Caer Dathyl ahead of the companions. Taran tried to gallop through the marching forces but aroused the attention of the Horned King himself. Desperate to save himself and Eilonwy, Taran tried to draw Dyrnwyn, but was magically scorched in the attempt. A man appeared, spoke an unintelligible word, and the Horned King burned to ash and was swallowed by the earth.
-When Taran regains consciousness, Gwydion explains that he had been taken from Spiral Castle by Achren before it was destroyed, so he was still alive. All of the companions are given gifts as a reward for their efforts.
+When Taran regained consciousness under Eilonwy's care, Gwydion explained that he had been moved to another place of torture, called [[Oeth-Anoeth]], before the collapse of Spiral Castle, which had fallen with Eilonwy's removal of the enchanted sword Dyrnwyn. Gwydion now carried the blade. The Prince of Don further explained that the [[Gwythaint Fledgling]] had led him to Taran, and from Hen Wen he had learned the Horned King's secret name, the utterance of which had destroyed the evil champion. All of the companions were given gifts as a reward for their efforts, and Eilonwy and Gurgi came to stay at Caer Dallben.
 ==Chapters==
@@ Line 28: / Line 33: @@
 #[[The Sword Dyrnwyn]]
 #[[Flight Through the Hills]]
+#[[The Wolves]]
-#[[The Wolves]]
 #[[The Hidden Valley]]
 #[[The Black Lake (chapter)|The Black Lake]]
@@ Line 37: / Line 42: @@
 #[[The Secret]]
 #[[Welcomes]]
 ==Characters==
+{{Col-begin}}
-*[[Achren]]
+{{Col-2}}
-*[[Coll]]
-*[[Dallben]]
+*[[Taran|Taran of Caer Dallben]]
-*[[Doli]]
-*[[King Eiddileg]]
 *[[Princess Eilonwy]]
 *[[Fflewddur Fflam]]
@@ Line 48: / Line 52: @@
 *[[Prince Gwydion]]
 *[[The Horned King]]
+*[[Achren]]
+{{Col-2}}
+*[[Dallben]]
+*[[Doli]]
+*[[King Eiddileg]]
+*[[Coll]]
 *[[Medwyn]]
+*[[Arawn Death-Lord]]
-*[[Taran|Taran of Caer Dallben]]
+*[[Cauldron-Born]]
+{{col-end}}
 [[Category:Books]]
+[[Category:The Chronicles of Prydain]]