The Letter for the King
Bought this to read to my children but they are a bit too young for it, probably more suited to 8 year-olds and upwards. I, however, enjoyed it very much! Not the sort of book I would usually pick up. A fun adventure of a young knight-to-be as he goes on a long and dangerous mission whose secrets are revealed along the way.
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself,”
“Only a chosen few of our knights wear such a ring. King Unauwen gives them to his most faithful paladins. Some say there are only twelve of these rings in existence. Others claim there are only seven.”
“Where can a man find better rest than sitting with his companions, drinking wine and listening to stories?”
One of my father’s neighbours would never take a step outside the village and he died falling downstairs. You’re better off going headfirst into a ravine, don’t you think? Then at least you’ve seen something of the world.
You can ride quickly across the Hills of the Moon and it’s a clear night.
Andrew Doran
Do horses sleep much? Can you take them out for a ride whenever you want to in the night?
Sometimes you need to be sad so that you can appreciate joy all the more. Just as rain must fall between sunny spells.
They spent the first night of their journey home in the open air
Andrew Doran
I wonder how often travellers really slept outdoors years ago?
You see, when a man dies, there is always another to take his place.
There was indeed sorrow in his eyes, but that seemed to be part of his character. It was the melancholy of a man who knows and understands a great deal, and so cannot be light-hearted.
Although the friends had had a late night, they got up early the next morning
Andrew Doran
Story of my life.
there will always be something that you miss, whether you leave now or stay here. All throughout our lives, we must keep saying goodbye.
The two friends stood there for a moment, looking at each other, and then they both looked away, in opposite directions.
Andrew Doran
This has turned into something of a love story.
Dragt was awarded the State Prize for Youth Literature in 1976 and was knighted in 2001.
Andrew Doran
I wonder how that felt after having written a book about knights so long ago?
I can’t read this without Mighty Boosh-voices saying it in my head.