A Lloyd Alexander Collection (3 Complete Novels) [Hardcover]

Lloyd Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

In this value-priced trio of popular novels by Lloyd Alexander, an Indian heir journeys to reclaim his lost kingdom, a wanted young man flees through a land steeped in ancient Greek mythology, and a Chinese prince seeks a legendary country overflowing with peace and happiness. Rich in multicultural lore and zesty wit, this collection offers Alexander at his best.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

High adventure in three marvelously mystical worlds from the master of quest fantasy, Lloyd Alexander! Together for the first time in one hefty volume are three of Alexander's best-loved novels: The Arkadians, The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen, and The Iron Ring. Packed with humor, details, wisdom, and even a moral or two (although Alexander is as far from sanctimonious as can be), each story follows a hero as he embarks on a quest--one through mythic Greece to escape a death sentence, another through medieval China in search of a utopian kingdom, and a third through ancient India to fulfill his duty to honor. A cast of Chaucerian characters accompanies each hero, from a bewitched poet-turned-talking-jackass to a highly principled thief to an eagle with an attitude and a scaredy-cat elephant...and always, the smart young woman who takes loving pity on our sometimes-bumbling hero. Truly epic, each novel is made up of myriad stories within stories, guaranteed to enthrall readers of all ages for hours at a time. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 752 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (May 21, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525467777
• ISBN-13: 978-0525467779
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #667,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alexander's best standalones, May 29, 2001

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Lloyd Alexander Collection (3 Complete Novels) (Hardcover)

Lloyd Alexander is best known for his award-winning Prydain series, then for the Vesper Holly adventures and the Westmark trilogy. Aside from these, he has also written a lot of sparkling standalone adventures, drawing from cultures all around the world.

"The Arkadians" takes place in a vaguely Grecian setting, when a young boy flees evil fortunetellers and a hot-tempered king. He soon teams up with a talking donkey and a witty magical girl, to find the mysterious Lady.

"The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen" follows a young Chinese prince and his sharp-tongued servant, who travel to a beautiful land to ask the king of it how he governs so well. The result is a quest that teaches Jen a few things...

"The Iron Ring" concerns a young Indian king who recklessly gambles away his kingdom, wealth, and life to a stranger, and an iron ring appears on his finger. He must travel to a distant kingdom with his companions before his lesson is truly learned.

Alexander's casts often include similar characters: the flawed hero who needs to learn something on the way, the odd and often self-deprecating sidekick, and the girl with wit and intelligence and little patience with needless idiocy. Additionally, in these particular stories there are often old myths and legends from their respective cultures scattered through the plot.

Though for sheer pathos and scope these books do not match the Prydain Chronicles, they are nevertheless great stories by a master storyteller.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clever fun, fun cleverness, November 8, 2003

By 

Owl "intellectual WITCH" (Cary NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Lloyd Alexander Collection (3 Complete Novels) (Hardcover)

These are very good books that I would have liked to encounter as a youngster. The others don't quite measure up to the high standard set by The Arkadians, but the whole thing is worth getting just for it. The clever combining of all of the most familiar Greek tales into one adventure in Arkadians has to be read to be appreciated.