The Letter for the King (Winter Edition)

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

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Description

It is the dead of night.

Sixteen-year-old Tiuri must spend hours locked in a chapel in silent contemplation if he is to be knighted the next day.

But, as he waits by the light of a flickering candle, he hears a knock at the door and a voice desperately asking for help.

A secret letter must be delivered to King Unauwen across the Great Mountains - a letter upon which the fate of the entire kingdom depends. Tiuri has a vital role to play, one that might cost him his knighthood.

Tiuri's journey will take him through dark, menacing forests, across treacherous rivers, to sinister castles and strange cities. He will encounter evil enemies who would kill to get the letter, but also the best of friends in the most unexpected places.

He must trust no one.
He must keep his true identity secret.
Above all, he must never reveal what is in the letter.

The Letter for the King is the thrilling story of one boy's battle against evil, set in an enchanted world of chivalry, courage and true friendship.

Reviews

A true page-turner Sunday Times A thrilling, page-turning tale... My 10- and 11-year-old were both gripped Telegraph This 1962 pulse-pounding epic... will keep all high-fantasy addicts riveted from the first page Metro A seamless translation...Tonke Dragt's novel has the simplicity of plot and clarity of expression characteristic of great children's fiction... this spellbinding classic of high fantasy never once flags -- James Lovegrove Financial Times A cracker Spectator Beautifully constructed... gripping, delightful and true Guardian Will get pulses racing... Pushkin Press deserves every praise for publishing this beautifully translated, well-presented and captivating book -- Amanda Craig The Times A fast-moving, wonderful old-style adventure... cinematic in its visual detail... a European classic... far loftier than Harry Potter -- Eileen Battersby Irish Times A fantasy about a 16-year-old medieval squire who finds danger, true friendship and first love on a mission to deliver a letter that can save a kingdom. The award-winning translator Laura Watkinson conveys its rich symbolism, vividness and economy of style -- Nicolette Jones Sunday Times, Children's Books of the Year 2013 Gripping from its opening moment onwards, this award-winning book doesn't miss a beat from its thrilling beginning to its satisfying ending -- Julia Eccleshare Love Reading 4 Kids An old-fashioned quest story... a wonderfully simple, wonderfully gripping story -- Melanie McDonagh Spectator A classic quest narrative... a thoughtful and endearing hero, whose loyalty and nobility - qualities much ignored today - sustain him throughout. Dragt's illustrations are mystical and timeless -- Philip Womack Literary Review A fast-paced quest... Great for high-fantasy fans Metro A medieval fantasy of the highest order, action-packed and atmospheric -- Robert Dunbar Irish Times My ten-year-old daughter says [The Letter for the King] is the best book she's ever read -- Cerys Matthews Mail on Sunday Now, finally published in English, we too can read this brilliantly epic tale Sunday Express Tiuri is set to be the next Harry Potter Daily Mail If you find Game Of Thrones too gory or simply want to be ahead of the curve then this is for you. It's an epic adventure that will sweep you up into a world of knights, villainy and peril -- Melissa Cox, Waterstones Stylist A year after its belated publication in English, The Letter for the King has hooked thousands more children and adults Independent A classic fantasy set in a medieval world... beautifully translated from the original Dutch Telegraph Gripping... inspiring Rachel Khoo A charming story told simply and captivatingly... the first English translation of a classic of European children's literature which ... deserves to be richly treasured Booktrust The plot is central, and extremely gripping, but the writing also delivers lovely detail and evocative description Guardian Children's Books The publishing in English of Tonke Dragt 's The Letter for the King brings back ancient, yet deeply pleasant memories. She's always at the top of the list when writers of my generation are asked which books they loved in their childhood, and justly so -- Erwin Mortier Explores themes of bravery, loyalty, and commitment... The Letter for the King not only caters for a young adult audience but would also be an ideal bedtime story for parents looking to share reading with their children We Love This Book Epic story Guardian Children's Books An absolute pleasure... immensely enjoyable... vivid and intelligent Newbooks Has all the essential and traditional ingredients of a timeless and heroic tale with its motifs of friendship, first love, courage, loyalty, chivalry... the compelling, twisting and turning story has an ethereal and hypnotic elegance which delights as much as it excites Lancashire Evening Post A glorious, elf-free epic Jewish Chronicle If you enjoy classic fairytale journeys through forests, over mountains and across kingdoms then this is the book for you We Love This Book It's a richly imagined, gentle and reassuring story Books for Keeps [Tiuri] keeps us leaning close to catch every surprise, every thrill of suspense, every uplifting discovery and crushing disappointment, that propels this book along at a captivating pace, all the way to its most satisfying finish Mugglenet Easy and enjoyable to read Bookwitch Blog A sweet and rather innocent book Sfcrowsnest Blog A compelling story which twists and turns and keeps the reader gripped throughout Parents in Touch Dutch Tolkienesque epic saga novel... A warm-hearted exhilarating fantasy novel for children, or young at heart grown-ups Bath Life A classic of European children's literature... this is the gripping tale of a squire, a dangerous mission and a kingdom in peril The School Run An absolute classic for children who love a gripping novel - buy it now Creative Steps The best thing since Tolkien. The word on everyone's lips. Knights. Villainy. Deadly intrigue. And that cover. What more can we say Scholastic, Teen Book Club Gripping... a wonderful book to curl up and dive into this Christmas Junior If you like Tolkien and JK Rowling's tales of questing, you'll enjoy this page-turner which has a lovely lightness of touch, while still being thoroughly engrossing Brentwood Gazette

Author Bio

Tonke Dragt was born in 1930 in Indonesia. When she was twelve, she was imprisoned in a Japanese camp during war, where she wrote her very first book using begged and borrowed paper. After the war, she and her family moved to the Netherlands, where she became an art teacher. She published her first book in 1961, and a year later this was followed by her most famous story, The Letter for the King, which won the Children's Book of the Year Award and has been translated into sixteen languages. She was awarded the State Prize for Youth Literature in 1976 and was knighted in 2001.