The Black Cauldron
In the land of Prydain, evil is never far away. Arawn, Lord of the Land of Death, has been building an army of dark warriors to take over Prydain, and the only way to stop him is to destroy the Black Cauldron he uses to create his dreaded soldiers.
Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, and his loyal companions, must journey deep into Arawn's domain to destroy the Black Cauldron. For each of them, the quest has special meaning. For Taran, it is a glorious opportunity to use his first sword in battle. But war requires a sacrifice greater than he'd ever imagined...
Newbery Honor Book, 1966
About the Chronicles of Prydain Series
Books in series order
- 1.The Book of Three(1964)
- 2.The Black Cauldron(1965)
- 3.The Castle of Llyr(1966)
- 4.Taran Wanderer(1967)
- 5.The High King(1968)
- +The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain(1973)
Reading age: 8+ years
This series should be read in order.
Blending rich elements of Welsh legend, universal mythology and imagination, Lloyd Alexander created Prydain, a land of fantasy, good and evil, and heroes rooted in reality and truth. This series follows the adventures of Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, and his quest to become a hero. Taran is joined by an engaging cast of characters that includes Eilonwy, the strong-willed and sharp-tongued princess; Fflewddur Fflam, the exaggeration-prone bard; the ever-faithful Gurgi; and the irritable Doli - all of whom become involved in the epic struggle between good and evil that shapes the fate of the legendary land of Prydain.