Lloyd Alexander was born in the US in 1924 and died just recently -- on May 17, 2007 -- at the age of 83.  He wrote for both adults and children, but is best known for his fantasy novels for children, especially the Prydain chronicles.  As a child, he loved reading about King Arthur and later became interested in Welsh mythology.

The Prydain cycle:

• The Book of Three (1964)
• The Black Cauldron (1965)
• The Castle of Llyr (1966)
• Taran Wanderer (1967)
• The High King (1968) -- which won the Newbery Medal in the USA

See the official website of the Chronicles of Prydain.

Possible discussion points about The Book of Three:

• Prydain is made up of cantrevs, or small kingdoms, ruled over by Math, the High King.  Within the cantrevs are farms like Caer Dallben and Caer Dathyl.  To the north is Annuvin, the land of the dead.  Did Lloyd Alexander paint a convincing picture of this world to you?  Were you easily able to imagine Taran moving through it?

 

• Discuss the good guys in this book:

  Dallben; Coll; Hen Wen the pig; Prince Gwydion; the sons of Don; Math the High King; Medwyn who livesin the foothills of Eagle Mountains; King Eiddileg, the Dwarf King; the Fair Folk (the dwarves);

 

• Discuss the evil characters or creatures in this book:

  Arawn, Lord of Annuvin; the Horned King; Gwyn the Hunter; the gwythaints, the Eyes of Annuvin; the Cauldron-Born, the guards of Annuvin; Queen Achren of Spiral Castle;

 

• What notions about heroes does Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, have at the beginning of the book and how do those notions change?  How do different characters act as heroes at different times in the story?  (e.g., Gwydion, Taran, Gurgi, Eilonwy, Fflewddur, Doli)   Is Taran the main hero of this book?

 

• What is the relationship between Taran and Eilonwy?  Why does she help Taran escape from Spiral Castle?

 

• At the end of the book we find out Eilonwy is a princess, but Taran's parentage is a mystery.  What do you think readers will discover about Taran in later books in the series?

   

   

• What was the Book of Three?  Was Taran allowed to touch it?  Why do you think Alexander named this book The Book of Three?  What would you have named this book instead?

 Have you ever heard of ....?

The Mabinogion, a group of ancient Welsh tales, which inspired Alexander in writing his Prydain series.  One of the main heroes featured in the tales is Pryderi, son of Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed.  The legendary King Arthur also appears as a character in some stories.

 

Pronunciation of Welsh names:  

Llyr = lleer ;  Pryderi = prudderee ;  Pwyll = pooill ; Eilonwy = eyelonwee ; Fflewddur Fflam = fleoothur flam ; Eiddileg = eyethileg ;