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Howl's Moving Castle
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Read Howl's Moving Castle
Howl/Castle: Book 1

Howl's Moving Castle (1986) (edit title/settings)

by Diana Wynne Jones (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

In the land of Ingary, such things as spells, invisible cloaks, and seven-league boots were everyday things. The Witch of the Waste was another matter. After fifty years of quiet, it was rumored that the Witch was about to terrorize the country again. So when a moving black castle, blowing... read more

Summary edit see section history

When Sophie is turned into an old woman by the Witch of the Waste, she strikes a deal with a demon to break her curse in exchange for her to break the demon's contract with a wizard. Now Sophie goes on an amazing adventure to avenge herself and lift the curse.

People edit see section history

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Besides, it's raining out there in Market Chipping!”
    Calcifer
  • “I hope your bacon burns.”
    Calcifer
  • “All my flanks were weak, Sophie.”
    Howl
  • “We can't all be Mad Hatters.”
    Howl
  • “I think we ought to live happily ever after.”
    Howl
  • “I'm dying of boredom. Or maybe just dying.”
    Howl
  • “That's why I love spiders. 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.”
    Howl
  • “She said 'Over my dead body!' so I took her at her word.”
    Witch of the Waste
  • “I'm done running away. Finally, I've found something worth protecting with my life. It's you.”
    Howl
  • “Seems like your true love has fallen in love with someone else!”
    Witch of the Waste
  • “Yes, you are nosy. You're a dreadfully nosy, horribly bossy, appallingly clean old woman. Control yourself. You're victimizing us all.”
    Howl
  • “'Go to bed, you fool,' Calcifer said sleepily. 'You're drunk.' 'Who, me?' said Howl. 'I assure you, my friends, that I am cone sold stober.'”
    Calcifer and Howl
  • “Sophie's experience told her that tantrums are seldom about the thing they appear to be about.”
  • “He spread his arms out passionately. "Despair!" he yelled. "Anguish! Horror!"”
    Howl
  • “There were horrendous, dramatic, violent quantities of green slime- oodles of it. It covered Howl completely.”
  • “"Whatever it was- all that left of the last person you cleaned for?"”
    Howl to Sophie
  • “Because when I happened to tear my eyes from Lettie's lovely face for an instant yesterday, I could have sworn I saw your long nose poking round the corner of the house.”
    Howl
  • “If I were to court a girl who lived on an iceberg in the middle of an ocean, sooner or later- probably sooner- I'd look up to see you swooping overhead on a broomstick. In fact, by now I'd be disappointed in you if I didn't see you.”
    Howl to Sophie
Show all 18 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

This book has quite a few settings, and therefore may be more complicated for younger readers.
  • Ingary: The country in which the story takes place.
  • Wales: Howl's true home, where his family lives.
  • The Moving Castle: Where Howl, Michael, Sophie and Calcifer all live.
  • The Waste: Home of the Witch of the Waste.

First Sentence edit see section history

In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three.

Table of Contents edit see section history

1: In which Sophie talks to hats
2: In which Sophie is compelled to seek her fortune
3: In which Sophie enters into a castle and a bargain
4: In which Sophie discovers several strange things
5: Which is far too full of washing
6: In which Howl expresses his feelings with green slime
7: In which a scarecrow prevents Sophie from leaving the castle
8: In which Sophie leaves the castle in several directions at once
9: In which Michael has trouble with a spell
10: In which Calcifer promises Sophie a hint
11: In which Howl goes to a strange country in search of a spell
12: In which Sophie becomes Howl's old mother
13: In which Sophie blackens Howl's name
14: In which a Royal Wizard catches a cold
15: In which Howl goes to a funeral in disguise
16: In which there is a great deal of witchcraft
17: In which the moving castle moves house
18: In which the scarecrow and Miss Angorian reappear
19: In which Sophie expresses her feelings with weed-killer
20: In which Sophie finds further difficulties in leaving the castle
21: In which a contract is concluded before witnesses

Glossary edit see section history

  • Ingary: the land in which this book takes place

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 3 in Howl/Castle. (standard series)

Followed by Castle in the Air.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Diana Wynne Jones (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1986
ISBN: 0688062334
Page Count: 224

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Has no objectionable content but the plot may be difficult for younger readers to follow.

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Castle in the Air
  • House of Many Ways
  • Fire and Hemlock
  • The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume I
  • The Chronicles of Chrestomanci: Volume II
  • Charmed Life

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • House of Many Ways
  • Castle in the Air

Books Influenced by This Book edit see section history

   
  • House of Many Ways
  • Castle in the Air

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