Taran Wanderer

Taran Wanderer
First edition cover
AuthorLloyd Alexander
Cover artistEvaline Ness
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Chronicles of Prydain
GenreFantasy
PublishedAugust 24, 1967 (Holt, Rinehart and Winston)
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardcover & paperback)
Pages222 (first edition)
ISBN0-8050-1113-7 (first edition, hard)
OCLC244128642
LC ClassPZ7.A3774 Tar
Preceded byThe Castle of Llyr 
Followed byThe High King 

Taran Wanderer (1967) is an American high fantasy novel by Lloyd Alexander. It follows The Castle of Llyr and precedes The High King in the series The Chronicles of Prydain, which takes place in a setting inspired by Welsh myth.[1] [2] In the course of the story, Taran goes on a quest to understand who he is and what it means to be a man. He is aided by familiar friends such as Gurgi, Dallben, and others. Taran's hope to have noble lineage stems from his desire to marry the absent Eilonwy.

Alexander's experience in Wales during the Second World War informed much of the book, particularly its setting. Initially, Alexander had not intended to write this volume, going straight from The Castle of Llyr to The High King, but his publisher convinced him to do so in order to more satisfyingly depict Taran's arc. The book has attracted attention as a coming of age story that is conversant with Campbell's model of the monomyth. It has also gained a reputation as an example of American mythopoetic literature, both as a single book and as a part of the larger Chronicles.[2] [3] Many reviewers, particularly near its release, considered Taran Wanderer an excellent example of literature for maturing young adults.[4] [5] [6]

  1. ^ "Review of Taran Wanderer". Kirkus Reviews. April 3, 1967.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference mythopoesis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Attebery was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Butchart1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Vigeurs, Ruth Hill (June 1967). "Review of Taran Wanderer". The Horn Book Magazine. 43 (3): 341.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kuznets was invoked but never defined (see the help page).