 First edition cover | |
| Author | Lloyd Alexander |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Evaline Ness |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Chronicles of Prydain |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Published | October 27, 1968 |
| Publisher | Holt, Rinehart and Winston |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover & paperback) |
| Pages | 288 |
| ISBN | 0-8050-1114-5 (first edition, hard) |
| OCLC | 23225498 |
| LC Class | PZ7.A3774 Hi |
| Preceded by | Taran Wanderer |
The High King (1968) is a children's fantasy novel by American author Lloyd Alexander. It concludes the Chronicles of Prydain series and won the Newbery Medal for children's literature.[1] In the series, main character Taran matures from an impulsive and childish Assistant Pig-Keeper to a colleague and counselor of kings. Throughout this installment, Taran is required to sacrifice his desires for the greater good.[2] This arc leads him to become High King of Prydain. The novel also draws on Lloyd Alexander's life experiences, including as a soldier in the Second World War.[3]
Scholarship and literary criticism of The High King have touched on numerous themes. These include meditations on masculinity, power, and maturation as well as broader analyses of American high fantasy. Reviews have been mixed, with some considering the work juvenile and others considering it excellent.
- ^ "Newbery Medal & Honor Books, 1922-Present". Association for Library Service to Children. American Library Association. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
- ^ Lloyd Alexander Interview Transcript Archived 2011-10-03 at the Wayback Machine (1999). Interview with Scholastic students. Scholastic Inc. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
- ^ Tunnell, Michael O. (2003). The Prydain Companion: A Reference Guide to Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles. New York City: Henry Holt and Company. pp. 144–146.