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 8
... rode out the front gate of his father's home, promising himself that he would never again enter those walls. He had taken his father's second best warhorse and piled his own armor and weapons on its back, but he himself rode a gentle ...
... rode out the front gate of his father's home, promising himself that he would never again enter those walls. He had taken his father's second best warhorse and piled his own armor and weapons on its back, but he himself rode a gentle ...
Page 15
... rode over the slight ridge of hills and came right up to two men chatting in the front yard of a small farm. One of the men was clearly the farmer, and the other was a gentleman, simply dressed but unquestionably of the aristocracy. The ...
... rode over the slight ridge of hills and came right up to two men chatting in the front yard of a small farm. One of the men was clearly the farmer, and the other was a gentleman, simply dressed but unquestionably of the aristocracy. The ...
Page 16
... rode up beside Dinadan. “We've had no trouble in this area since my grandfather's day, but it does look as if we're in for it a bit. These people came from nowhere with a motley band of mercenaries and settled in. The neighbors and I ...
... rode up beside Dinadan. “We've had no trouble in this area since my grandfather's day, but it does look as if we're in for it a bit. These people came from nowhere with a motley band of mercenaries and settled in. The neighbors and I ...
Page 17
... rode into the open gates of the manor, gave their horses to an elderly groom, then walked into the entrance hall. Over a huge fireplace was a painting of a gray-haired man with a glowering frown. “That's my grandfather there,” Sir ...
... rode into the open gates of the manor, gave their horses to an elderly groom, then walked into the entrance hall. Over a huge fireplace was a painting of a gray-haired man with a glowering frown. “That's my grandfather there,” Sir ...
Page 19
... rode back over the hill toward Lady Miriam's camp, Dinadan made his plans. He would return by a different route and approach through the woods behind the camp. Leaving his horse in the woods, he would enter the camp on foot and steal up ...
... rode back over the hill toward Lady Miriam's camp, Dinadan made his plans. He would return by a different route and approach through the woods behind the camp. Leaving his horse in the woods, he would enter the camp on foot and steal 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