The Savage Damsel And The Dwarf (The Squire's Tales) [Turtleback]

Gerald Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2004 | Series: The Squire's Tales (Book 3)

Her castle under siege by an evil knight who keeps beheading all her would-be rescuers, Lady Lynet realizes the only way to get help is to get it herself. So one night she slips away and strikes out for King Arthur's court where she hopes to find a gallant knight to vanquish the Knight of the Red Lands and free her castle. Gerald Morris's latest Arthurian novel is a highly comic tale of hidden identities, mysterious knights, faeries and enchantments, damsels-in-distress, and true love.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-A rollicking treatment of a lesser-known episode from Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur. Teenaged Lady Lynet sets out for Camelot, looking for a champion to free her family's castle from the siege of an evil knight. Along the way, she befriends several mysterious companions, none of whom is exactly as he or she first appears. Scattered throughout Lynet's saga are droll, unusually modern portrayals of many familiar Arthurian characters. The heroine, nicknamed the Savage Damsel, is a take-charge kind of gal. Noble Sir Gareth appears as a "clothheaded ninny," whose turbocharged sense of honor forces him into an unnecessary duel with every knight he stumbles across, and brave Sir Lancelot has burned out on chivalry and admits he has become a media creation. The novel is also enjoyable for its good-natured spoofing of the conventions of its medieval setting. Knights of the Round Table avoid any tournament where the prize is a lady's hand in marriage, figuring there must be something wrong with her. Characters poke fun at one another's lofty, Maloryesque language. Also, some of the most courageous knights are shown to be none too bright, which explains why they risk their lives so readily. Although the story lacks the majesty of other tales closer to the heart of the Arthurian legend, it is great fun and will be enjoyed by fans of the genre.
Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

A perfectly delicious, not entirely serious, reimagining of part of Thomas Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur. Sixteen-year-old Lady Lynet, younger sister of the beautiful, shallow Lyonesse, is tired of watching the Red Knight slaughter Lyonesse's suitors and stealthily rides to Camelot to ask King Arthur to send a knight to defeat Red. She's worried, though, because her father died opposing Arthur. She's aided by a dwarf she meets along the way, a polite, knowledgeable fellow, who helps her navigate the paths to Camelot, joining her and the kitchen knave Beaumains--or is Beaumains really someone else? As they travel, Lynet sees a lot of knights fighting, learns that appearances can be deceiving, and finds true love. There's a lot of commentary about the foolishness of men--certainly this gaggle of knights offers much to giggle at--and Lynet's directness contrasts strongly with her sister's simper and whine. Lancelot, Gawain, and Morgan Le Fay make cameo appearances, but no previous knowledge of Arthurian legend is required to enjoy this sweetly amusing tale. GraceAnne A. DeCandido --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Turtleback: 213 pages
• Publisher: Demco Media (April 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606303219
• ISBN-13: 978-0606303217
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,661,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gerald Morris grew up in Singapore, where his parents were Baptist missionaries. Singapore was a great, safe place to grow up, and he remembers that time with fond nostalgia. (Ditto for being Baptist, actually.) Since reaching adulthood, he has worked as a minister, a religion professor, a landscaper, and a teacher, all to support his predilection for writing children's novels. Or maybe the writing income supports his ministry habit.

He now lives in Wausau, Wisconsin with his wife and three kids. (Okay, one's at college and another's about to go.) There he serves as associate pastor at the First United Methodist Church, writes children's and YA novels (mostly about King Arthur), and still occasionally scapes land.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm not worthy! Best book EVER!, July 30, 2004

By 

M. A. Bechaz "bookaholic" (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf (The Squire's Tales) book 3 (Paperback)

I would honestly give this book more stars if I could! Don't be deceived into thinking this is simply a kids book--whilst I thoroughly recommend it as a great read for kids and teens, it is in fact fabulous literary fodder for readers of any age, especially those with a fascination for Arthurian legends, or anyone interested in seeing Sir Thomas Malory's work Le Morte D'Arthur updated and made more accessible. This is the BEST interpretation of the tale 'The Kitchen Knight' that I have ever read (and I've read a few of them). This one actually explains all the loose ends and incomprehensible plot twists that the original version contained, and improves the story no end. Gerald Morris is a truly gifted author, and I frequently laughed out loud at the delightful, witty dialogue in this book. So enthralled was I that once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down, not even to go to sleep (my eyes were red and puffy the next day, but it was worth it!) Not only that, but as soon as I finished it, I started reading it all over again. It was just that good!

I loved the underlying premise of this story--that beauty is more than just skindeep, and that one should not choose their friends and allies just for their looks. None of the main characters in this book are what they seem, and the fun is in unravelling the mysteries surrounding them. I adored the character of Lady Lynet--she is brave, smart and not afraid to speak her mind or take chances. Furthermore, she is a big, strong girl with a healthy appetite, which makes her a very refreshing change from your usual insipid, willow-thin, eat-like-a-sparrow heroines. And although she starts out as a damsel in distress, she is never a weak and helpless girl, but rather a resourceful go-getting kind of woman. Truly, Lynet is an inspiration for girls today. I find it interesting that her character is written by a male writer. Gerald Morris obviously has a deep respect for strong, capable girls...as should we all! Lady Lynet finds her match in the dwarf, Roger, who is as interesting a character as you'll ever find, and a wonderful choice of male lead. Most authors would have cast a tall, handsome, gallant knight in shining armour as the hero of the story. Not so this author! And I'm glad. Roger is absolutely brilliant, and far more endearing than any of the knights in the book, even the great and witty Sir Gawain.

Although part 3 of a series, this book is a stand alone work that can be read independently of the others without any qualms or misunderstandings. The other reviewers who gave this five stars are right--this is an incredible, funny, intelligent book, and one not to be missed!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Arthurian Novel, May 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf (The Squire's Tales) (Hardcover)

I very much enjoy a good adventure novel, and this one has plenty of disquised knights, corageous ladies, and magical sidekicks. Lynet leaves her home at the castle Perle to request Arthur's help in freeing her family from a troublesome knight. Unfortunately, the only help she can muster is a kitchen hand with a name that means "beautiful hands." She also encounters a helpful dwarf named Roger who gladly accompanies her on her quest. The travellers meet many original characters and old friends that make an appearance from Morris's other novels, A Squire's Tale and A Squire, His Knight and His Lady. A novel for anyone who likes an adventure, it also contains an inkling of romance. I read parts of it over and over!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern Arthurian romance., June 6, 2000

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf (The Squire's Tales) (Hardcover)

Lady Lynet, younger sister of the beautiful Lyonesse, finds that her castle is besieged by a fierce, recreant knight who is determined to have Lyonesse's hand in marriage. So, Lynet mounts a horse, determined to go to Camelot and beg King Arthur to send a knight to rescue them. Along the way, she falls in with a dwarf named Roger, a man of very little fighting ability. At Camelot, no knight will take up her cause, but only a kitchen knave, name Beaumains. Together, the three head back towards Cornwall. In the rest of the book, Lynet learns that there is more to the people around her than meets the eye.

This book was quite entertaining, and is written in an easy to read style. I really enjoyed the way it began to spin off surprise after surprise late in the book. I have not read any other of Gerald Morris' other books, but I now intend to!

For the purists, this novel does not portray a "realistic" Fifth Century Arthur, but is an example of a High Medieval, chivalric Arthur.