Publication Date: July 2001 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up
When Vesper is invited to Drackenberg's Golden Jubilee, she and her guardians find themselves involved in an attempted overthrow of the government, the disappearance of a priceless painting-and a kidnapping by evil Dr. Helvitius. Just business as usual!
"Has it all: a beautiful heroine, frustrated villains, hairbreadth escapes. . .Must have been almost as much fun to write as it is to read," -The Horn Book
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
In her latest bout with villainy, Vesper Holly of The Illyrian Adventure and The El Dorado Adventure is accompanied by her legal guardians Professor Brinton and his wife Mary to Drackenberg to attend the Diamond Jubilee of the Grand Duchess. Immediately upon their arrival, Vesper and her companions become involved in Drackenberg's struggle to remain independent from neighboring Carpatia. The appearance of Vesper's archenemy, the dastardly Dr. Helvitius, is a sure sign that trouble is soon to follow. In the course of their stay, Vesper and Brinnie travel with a band of gypsies in order to rescue Mary from kidnappers, recover a lost masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, discover a way to revive Drackenberg's economy and foil (for the time being, anyway) the evil machinations of Dr. Helvitius. Although the Vesper Holly novels rarely touch on the serious topics explored in some of Alexander's earlier novels (The Prydain Chronicles and The Westmark Trilogy), each effervescent addition to the series is a pleasure to read. Deft storytelling combines with thorough research to create a seamless, fantastic vision of 19th century life. Ages 10-14. Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Publisher
Who could resist a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to the Grand Duchess of Drackenberg's Diamond Jubilee Celebration? Not Vesper Holly! Off she goes, with her guardian, Brinnie, and his wife, Mary, and plunges into a plot involving a takeover attempt from neighboring Carpatia.
In short order, Vesper finds herself mixed up with Gypsies, a kidnapping, and the discovery of a priceless Leonardo da Vinci portrait. Vesper has her hands full. Especially when the despicable Dr. Helvitius shows up. Will Vesper be able to save the day--and Drackenberg?
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Few writers have inspired as much affection and interest among readers young and old as Lloyd Alexander. At one point, however, it seemed unlikely that he would ever be a writer at all. His parents could not afford to send him to college. And so when a Philadelphia bank had an opening for a messenger boy, he went to work there. Finally, having saved some money, he quit and went to a local college. Dissatisfied with not having learned enough to be a writer he left at the end of one term. Adventure, he decided was the best way. The United States had already entered World War II. Convinced that here was a chance for real deeds of derring-do, he joined the army -- and was promptly shipped to Texas where he became, in disheartening succession an artilleryman, a cymbal player in the band, an organist in the post chapel, and a first-aid man. At last, he was assigned to a military intelligence center in Maryland. There he trained as a member of a combat team to be parachuted into France to work with the Resistance. "This, to my intense relief, did not happen," says Alexander. Instead, Alexander and his group sailed to Wales to finish their training. This ancient, rough-hewn country, with its castles, mountains, and its own beautiful language made a tremendous impression on him. But not until years later did he realize he had been given a glimpse of another enchanted kingdom. Alexander was sent to Alsace-Lorraine, the Rhineland, and southern Germany. When the war ended, he was assigned to a counterintelligence unit in Paris. Later he was discharged to attend the University of Paris. While a student he met a beautiful Parisian girl, Janine, and they soon married. Life abroad was fascinating, but eventually Alexander longed for home. The young couple went back to Drexel Hill, near Philadelphia, where Alexander wrote novel after novel which publishers unhesitatingly turned down. To earn his living, he worked as a cartoonist, advertising writer, layout artist, and associate editor for a small magazine. It took seven years of constant rejection before his first novel was at last published. During the next ten years, he wrote for adults. And then he began writing for young people.Doing historical research for Time Cat he discovered material on Welsh mythology. The result was The Book of Three and the other chronicles of Prydain, the imaginary kingdom being something like the enchanted land of Wales. In The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen Alexander explored yet another fantastic world. Evoking an atmosphere of ancient China, this unique multi-layered novel was critically acclaimed as one of his finest works. Trina Schart Hyman illustrated The Fortune-tellers as a Cameroonian folktale sparkling with vibrant images, keen insight and delicious wit. Most of the books have been written in the form of fantasy. But fantasy, Alexander believes, is merely one of many ways to express attitudes and feelings about real people, real human relationships and problems
This is like a Nancy Drew book only better. Vesper Holly is a young woman who is in the care of a couple - Brinnie and his wife Mary are friends of her deceased parents. Vesper is headstrong, courageous, daring, fun, exciting, smart and talented.
In this book her guardians are invited to a diamond jubilee and Vesper convinces them to go. So off they go only to run into their old nemisis who has tried to kill them in previous adventures. This time is no different. A kidnapping, traveling with gypsies, a bomb, and many other exciting things happen.
What an excellent book. I learned a little bit while I read this book and I totally enjoyed the read.
Enjoy.
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"Look out Indiana Jones! Here comes Vesper Holly!"... how completely true in this fantastic book by the author of the Prydain Chronicles. Vesper's back, along with her insufferable guardian Brinnie and his suprisingly strong-willed wife, Aunt Mary. The dear girl has dragged them off again, this time to a diamond jubilee for the Grand Duchess of Drackenberg, where they promptly bump into the notorious Professer Desmond Helvitius. Naturally, Vesper wants to know why Helvitius is visiting Drackenberg, so off she goes, dragging Brinnie around with her like Sherlock Holmes dragged Dr. Watson about the streets of London! Like all of Vesper's stories, adventure is the key. Kidnapping, exploding sausages, and a portrait by Leonardo DaVinci follow, making this a non-stop action adventure! Move over, Indiana Jones! Make way for Vesper Holly!
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I found this book to be more predictable than the first two in the Vesper Holly books. The villain is given to monologuing his intentions away; the climax pales in comparison to the El Dorado Adventure, especially. Some of the writing also seems more forced than in the previous books (i.e. let's see how many times we can remind people that they're Philadelphians, even when awkward).
Still, the parts I enjoy most in this book as well as the previous two deal with Brinnie's thought processes (or lack thereof), and the author does not disappoint yet again. All in all, it's an enjoyable read, but just lacks the pizzazz of the previous books.
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