When fourth fiddler Sebastian loses his place in the Baron's orchestra, he has to leave the only home he knows—which turns out to be the least of his troubles. He rescues a stray cat from a group of tormentors, who then smash his precious violin; and the troubled young boy he tries to help turns out to be the Crown Princess, on the run from an arranged marriage. Sebastian, Princess Isabel, and Presto the cat soon find themselves fleeing stuffy officials, hired assassins, furious guardsmen and sentries—and, in their journey, find out what is truly important in life. The action and humor never stop in Lloyd Alexander's classic novel, written on the heels of his famed Prydain Chronicles.
"The articulate and vivid writing pulls together the threads of picaresque action, humor, chicanery, social commentary, and romance into an intricate and lively whole." —Saturday Review
Awards: ( Winner of the 1971 National Book Award ( An ALA Notable Book
This wonderful and magical tale by esteemed author Lloyd Alexander is the winner of the National Book Award. When young Sebastian makes an embarrassing noise with his fiddle in front of the Royal Treasurer, he loses his job and takes to the road, where he finds much adventure--and a magical violin.
Description:
When fourth fiddler Sebastian loses his place in the Baron's orchestra, he has to leave the only home he knows—which turns out to be the least of his troubles. He rescues a stray cat from a group of tormentors, who then smash his precious violin; and the troubled young boy he tries to help turns out to be the Crown Princess, on the run from an arranged marriage. Sebastian, Princess Isabel, and Presto the cat soon find themselves fleeing stuffy officials, hired assassins, furious guardsmen and sentries—and, in their journey, find out what is truly important in life. The action and humor never stop in Lloyd Alexander's classic novel, written on the heels of his famed Prydain Chronicles.
"The articulate and vivid writing pulls together the threads of picaresque action, humor, chicanery, social commentary, and romance into an intricate and lively whole." —Saturday Review
Awards:
( Winner of the 1971 National Book Award
( An ALA Notable Book
This wonderful and magical tale by esteemed author Lloyd Alexander is the winner of the National Book Award. When young Sebastian makes an embarrassing noise with his fiddle in front of the Royal Treasurer, he loses his job and takes to the road, where he finds much adventure--and a magical violin.