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Description edit
A mixture of puns and nonsense in Thurber's distinctive style weave a story of a prince, a princess, and a fairy tale ending. By the author of The Wonderful O.
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters edit
- Duke of Coffin Castle: Holding the princess captive so that he can marry her on her 21st birthday
- Prince Zorn: Disguised as Xingu -- a minstrel
- Princess Saralinda: The Duke's captive who is beautiful and warm
- Hagga: Under a spell that makes her cry jewels instead of tears.
- Golux: Mysterious and eccentric, with an indescribable hat and a describable beard. Appears and disappears but is trying to help the Prince
- Whisper: One of the duke's spies that cannot be seen
- Hark: One of the duke's spies that is really an agent of King Gwain of Yarrow except he is under a witch's spell.
- King Gwain of Yarrow: King of Yarrow who is caught in a trap and freed by Hagga. He is also the Princess's true father.
Quotes edit
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“'I can do a score of things that can't be done,' the Golux said. 'I can find a thing I cannot see and see a thing I cannot find. The first is time, the second is a spot before my eyes. I can feel a thing I cannot touch and touch a thing I cannot feel. The first is sad and sorry, the second is your heart.'”
Golux -
“A black figure in velvet mask and hood and cloak disappeared behind a tree. 'The cold Duke's spy-in-chief,' the traveler said, 'a man named Whisper. Tomorrow he will die.' The minstrel waited. 'He'll die because, to name your sins, he'll have to mention mittens. I leave at once for other lands, since I have mentioned mittens.'”
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“'We all have flaws,' he said, 'and mine is being wicked.'”
Duke
First Sentence edit
Once upon a time, in a gloomy castle on a lonely hill, where there were thirteen clocks that wouldn't go, there lived a cold, aggressive Duke, and his niece, the Princess Saralinda.
Series & Lists edit
This book is in The New York Review Children's Collection. (community list)
This is book 536 of 1272 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
Preceded by The Third Man, and followed by Gormenghast.
This is book 502 of 986 in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. (authoritative list)
Preceded by Children on the Oregon Trail, and followed by The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1950
ISBN: 9780440405825
Page Count: 124
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1950
ISBN: 9780440405825
Page Count: 124
Subjects edit
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