The Ballad of Sir DinadanThe author of Parsifal’s Page “interweaves action with sophisticated, wry humor and deft characterization to bring to life yet another medieval tale” (VOYA). Young Dinadan has no wish to joust or quest or save damsels in distress or do any of the knightly things expected of him. He’d rather be a minstrel, playing his rebec and writing ballads. But he was born to be a knight, and knights, of course, have adventures. So after his father forces his knighthood upon him, he wanders toward King Arthur’s court, in the company of a misguided young Welsh lad named Culloch. There Dinadan meets Sir Kai and Sir Bedivere, and the three find themselves accompanying Culloch on the worst sort of quest. Along the way, Dinadan writes his own ballads, singing of honor, bravery, loyalty, and courtly love—and becomes a player in the pathetic love story of Tristram and Iseult. He meets the Moorish knight Palomides, the clever but often exasperating Lady Brangienne, and an elvin musician named Sylvanus, along with an unusual collection of recreant knights and dimwitted defenders of chivalry. He learns that while minstrels sing of spectacular heroic deeds, honor is often found in simpler, quieter ways. “The humor ranges from subtle irony to scenes of pure comedy . . . a lighthearted introduction to the period.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “Morris creates in Dinadan one of his most appealing protagonists. Written in accessible prose and laced with occasional magic, the novel moves at a quick pace and showcases a continually maturing hero.” —The Horn Book “A witty tale of adventure and reflection.” —Booklist |
From inside the book
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Page 3
... hard and hungry, Dinny. Every minstrel I know would gladly trade places with you.” Dinadan didn't smile. “Would you? Would you be me, if you could?” Thomas shook his head slowly. “No, Dinny. Not for the world.” In truth, while many ...
... hard and hungry, Dinny. Every minstrel I know would gladly trade places with you.” Dinadan didn't smile. “Would you? Would you be me, if you could?” Thomas shook his head slowly. “No, Dinny. Not for the world.” In truth, while many ...
Page 7
... hard, glanced once at Dinadan, and said, “My lord, I beg you to lie down. You don't wish to hurt your son.” “Don't be such a block!” Sir Meliodas said. “I'm not going to hurt him! I'm going to knight him!” “Knight him?” Stearnes asked ...
... hard, glanced once at Dinadan, and said, “My lord, I beg you to lie down. You don't wish to hurt your son.” “Don't be such a block!” Sir Meliodas said. “I'm not going to hurt him! I'm going to knight him!” “Knight him?” Stearnes asked ...
Page 10
... hard to tell which of those promised delights was more enticing to Dinadan. In any case, he received both. Lady Miriam sat close beside him, making sure that his plate stayed full and listening wide-eyed to Dinadan's every word. It did ...
... hard to tell which of those promised delights was more enticing to Dinadan. In any case, he received both. Lady Miriam sat close beside him, making sure that his plate stayed full and listening wide-eyed to Dinadan's every word. It did ...
Page 12
... hard to pay attention to all Lady Miriam was saying. She was all but sitting on his lap now. “There is one hope, though,” Lady Miriam said, raising her head to look into Dinadan's eyes. “Sir Edmund is not so great a knight himself, and ...
... hard to pay attention to all Lady Miriam was saying. She was all but sitting on his lap now. “There is one hope, though,” Lady Miriam said, raising her head to look into Dinadan's eyes. “Sir Edmund is not so great a knight himself, and ...
Page 17
... hard to get out of a comfortable chair. “Tell me about these people who have moved into the neighborhood,” he asked his host. “We don't know much,” Sir Edmund replied. “They came from the northeast, armed to the teeth, and took up ...
... hard to get out of a comfortable chair. “Tell me about these people who have moved into the neighborhood,” he asked his host. “We don't know much,” Sir Edmund replied. “They came from the northeast, armed to the teeth, and took up ...
Contents
1 | |
24 | |
III Two Tales of Sir Marhault | 41 |
IV Sir Tristram | 65 |
V Questing | 85 |
VI The Shadow of the Woods | 109 |
VII The Moor the Morons | 134 |
VIII The Horn of Igraine | 163 |
X The Lyre | 198 |
XI Love Songs | 210 |
XII A Song for a Lady | 229 |
Authors Note | 243 |
Back Flap | 247 |
Back Cover | 248 |
Spine | 249 |
IX The Ballad of Sir Palomides | 178 |
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Common terms and phrases
adan armor bowed Brangienne’s Brother Eliot Camelot castle court Culloch Dinadan asked Dinadan grinned Dinadan looked Dinadan nodded Dinadan replied Dinadan smiled eyes face frowned Gaheris Gawain glanced grew guard hear heard Helius and Helake horn horses I’ve Isbad kill King Arthur’s King Isbaddadon King Mark king’s knew knight knighthood knightly Lady Brangienne Lady Miriam laughed looked at Dinadan lyre man’s Mark’s mides minstrel Modron Mother Priscilla never Olwen once Palomides asked Palomides replied Palomides’s play Queen Iseult quest rebec Rhiannon ride rode saddle shook his head sighed sing Sir Annui Sir Bedivere Sir Dinadan Sir Edmund Sir Hermind Sir Kai Sir Lamorak Sir Marhault Sir Meliodas Sir Tristram someone song stopped story sure sword Sylvanus tale task tell thing Thomas the Rhymer thought Tintagel told took Tramtris voice Wadsworth waiting Withernsea woman