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The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain is a collection of short high fantasy stories for children by Lloyd Alexander and illustrator Margot Zemach. The 1973 first edition includes six stories; the 1982 edition, eight.
- Lloyd Alexander
- 1992
- Overview
- Plot
is a book of short stories by Lloyd Alexander, which take place in Prydain prior to The Chronicles of Prydain. When first published in 1973, the book contained six stories; since 1983 the collection has included eight, adding "Coll and His White Pig" (1965), and "The Truthful Harp" (1967). Both of the latter were originally published as single titles, illustrated by Evaline Ness.
Mr. Alexander dedicated the book to "Friends of Prydain, who promised to read more if I would write more".
The Foundling
The first tale reveals how the enchanter Dallben was discovered as a baby by the three enchantresses, Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch, in the Marshes of Morva. It expands on a story already recounted in The Black Cauldron, detailing how Dallben acquired The Book of Three, and how reading the histories and futures of men caused him first happiness, then a sadness so profound if caused him to age overnight into an elderly man. Dallben persisted in reading the book, "whatever it may hold," and so discovered birth, the turn of the seasons, and how each short life, while filled with pain, is a "priceless treasure". He discovered hope and that, "while nothing is certain, everything is possible".
The Stone
The second story centers on a farmer named Maibon, who freed Doli of the Fair Folk from underneath a fallen log. By tradition, for the rescue Doli had to trade an object made by his crafty people. Maibon did not request the usual gold or jewels; he asked for the power to remain young. Doli tried to warn of "difficulties", but the man was insistent. After offering an old man a ride on his wagon, Maibon had decided he never wanted to grow old. Doli relented -- with cryptic but evident warnings -- and gave the farmer such a stone, which would keep its wearer from aging. Delighted at first, Maibon soon discovered his crops did not grow, his trees did not fruit, his cattle did not calve; there was no food to feed his family, who were not aging or growing either; the baby was stuck teething! Mortified and feeling cheated, the farmer tried to bury the stone, smash it, toss it down a well, but it always returned to him. Furious, he began to bury the stone. Doli appeared, watching Maibon from a stump. The farmer reproached the dwarf, but Doli reminded he had tried to warn the man, and explained that the stone kept returning because Maibon did not truly wish to be rid of it. At last the farmer flung it down inside the stump as Doli suggested, and his family grew, his wheat ripened, and he aged proudly and contentedly for the rest of his days.
The True Enchanter
The third story spins a tale of enchantment, when Angharad, mother of Princess Eilonwy, was faced with a choice of suitors to marry. According to law of the House of Llyr, she was compelled to marry a man who had been born an enchanter. Unimpressed with the first two magicians, she fell in love with the third man, Geraint, who while incapable of wielding magic, used sleight of hand and a charming showmanship to delight Queen Regat, the other spectators and most especially Princess Angharad. On learning Geraint was no true enchanter, she forbade the union compelling the enamored Angharad to elope. Her jealous suitors -- Grimgower and Gildas -- derided Geraint for his lack of power, but Angharad defended him as "the only true enchanter". The jealous sorcerers cast powerful spells to obstruct and harry the lovers, to no avail. The two clung to each other in the coldest storm, until they passed through it safe and warm. "And where they left footprints in the snow, flowers bloomed."
The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. After the five-part Chronicles of Prydain came to a close, fans of the series requested more stories from Lloyd Alexander, and he obliged with this anthology. There are eight short stories in all, set in Alexander’s Welsh-inspired land of Prydain in the time before our favourite ...
May 16, 2006 · A companion book to The Chronicles of Prydain, this collection of short stories revisits beloved characters and reveals more about the history of the magical land of Prydain.
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- Lloyd Alexander
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- Square Fish
Apr 8, 2010 · Six short stories dealing with events that preceded the birth of Taran, a key figure in the author's five works on the Kingdom of Prydain.
Nov 12, 1973 · A collection of short tales set in Prydain, written after the Chronicles of Prydain series. They tell a little bit more about the world and some of the characters in the main series - such as where Dalben grew up, and how Fflewdur Fflam got his harp.
Feb 1, 1996 · Paperback – February 1, 1996. Six short stories dealing with events that preceded the birth of Taran, a key figure in the author's five works on the Kingdom of Prydain. Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
- Lloyd Alexander
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