"I have finished my life work."

May 19, 2007 1:43 PM

NewsFilter: Lloyd Alexander (2) has died two weeks after his wife. Don't take his children's fantasy books seriously? Does it help that the American author introduced thousands of kids to Welsh mythology through The Chronicles of Prydain (Including The Black Cauldron [movie]), wrote over 40 novels (many of which are not fantasy nor children's books, such as his first book, "Let the Credit Go"), joined the army in WWII to become a better writer, and translated Nausea? His last book, The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio, will be released in August.
posted by OrangeDrink (56 comments total)

His work was a delight to me. Blessings as you go, Mr Alexander.
posted by Abiezer at 1:54 PM on May 19, 2007

I just re-read Time Cat (I know it's a kid's book, so sue me.)
The rest of his works are great, too - he'll be missed.
posted by Liosliath at 1:54 PM on May 19, 2007

First, Hunter S. Thompson, then Anna Nicole and now Lloyd Alexander. It seems deaths always come in threes.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:55 PM on May 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

Oh man, this is sad. Along with Madeline L'Engle, there were probably no other authors I loved more when I was a child.

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posted by felix betachat at 1:56 PM on May 19, 2007

I loved the Prydain books as a kid. I still have a set, floating around here somewhere. Good stuff.
posted by Gator at 1:59 PM on May 19, 2007

Love love love the Prydain Chronicles. Some of the best children's fantasy ever. RIP.
posted by Zephyrial at 2:03 PM on May 19, 2007

Loved the Chronicles of Prydian, and even better (and for somewhat older readers) was the Westmark trilogy. Alexander is the reason I've always wanted to visit Wales.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 2:10 PM on May 19, 2007

Hwyl, Mr. Alexander, and thanks.
posted by chihiro at 2:14 PM on May 19, 2007

Hey, that WaPo article says: "In 1969, he received the Newbery Medal for "The High King," the fifth of his six-book series, the Chronicles of Prydain." I could've sworn THK was that fifth of a five book series. Did he write one later I don't know about?
posted by Pater Aletheias at 2:14 PM on May 19, 2007

Pater, if you include "The Foundling," even though it's more or less a stand-alone novel, the Prydain Chronicles is six books long.

"Taran Wanderer" will always hold a special place in my heart. I read it when i was just a little younger than Taran, with no real father in my life, and I, too, wondered what it was I was supposed to do in my life.

Thank you, Mr. Alexander. See you on the other side.

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posted by lord_wolf at 2:23 PM on May 19, 2007

LA made my world so much the richer. Thanks.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:27 PM on May 19, 2007

I had just checked out "The Book of Three" for my son on Thursday. What a great series.
posted by mecran01 at 2:45 PM on May 19, 2007

I knew that already. *harp string snaps*
posted by kid ichorous at 2:47 PM on May 19, 2007 [6 favorites]

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posted by sciurus at 3:03 PM on May 19, 2007

Yep. I've been building up my children's library for when the kiddos get a little older. Pyrdain chronicles and The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper were among the first things I acquired.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 3:04 PM on May 19, 2007

I loved Prydain in high school.

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posted by absalom at 3:05 PM on May 19, 2007

I re-read the Pyrdain books just a year ago when I found them at the local library (having read them for the first time over 20 years ago). A fine author. RIP.
posted by GuyZero at 3:11 PM on May 19, 2007

Prydain was one of the most enchanting series I read as a youngster...RIP, Lloyd Alexander.
posted by davidmsc at 3:12 PM on May 19, 2007

Aside from a battered copy of The Hobbit, the Chronicles were the first books I bought when I got my first paper route fifteen years ago. Sorry to see him go.
posted by Paragon at 3:14 PM on May 19, 2007

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posted by Smart Dalek at 3:35 PM on May 19, 2007

I still remember the copy of The Black Cauldron I first read as a twee girl, and the battered and frayed copies of Alexander's books I found at the library not long after. I found the same editions at the local small town library two months ago, and devoured them again. I've since been looking for a way to contact Alexander, but I suppose I'm going to have to send my thanks and well-wishes into the ether.
posted by endermunkee at 3:45 PM on May 19, 2007

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posted by kyrademon at 3:45 PM on May 19, 2007

This makes me sad I never took advantage of the opportunities to hear him when he came to visit my University.

I still re-read his books regularly, and feel that when I do, I'm not only experiencing nostalgia or magic but sometimes encountering bits of wisdom or inspiration.
posted by weston at 3:48 PM on May 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

One aunt gave me The Book of Three as a gift, and I spent the rest of that summer tearing through the rest of the series. Years later another aunt sent me an autographed copy of The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen. Remarkable, indeed.

If any author was able to show me the magical world that reading created, it was him.

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posted by metabrilliant at 3:50 PM on May 19, 2007

Time to reread the Chronicles of Prydain- it's been a long time- and look for the sixth book, of which I was not aware!

Thanks posting this, OrangeDrink.

RIP Mr Alexander.
posted by Coaticass at 4:00 PM on May 19, 2007

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posted by freedryk at 4:22 PM on May 19, 2007

How truly sad. Prydain was a magical place, and I always liked how real the people seemed, even in such a "fairy" story. RIP.
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posted by gemmy at 4:56 PM on May 19, 2007

I think I'll have to take another stab at these. I was in about grade five when Disney's muddled adaptation came out. Saw it in the theatre... tried to read the book (which had been re-released with Disney cover art), while at the same time we were starting to read The Book of Three in school. I was left hopelessly confused. A fresh look might be in order.
posted by evilcolonel at 5:24 PM on May 19, 2007

I still own all of the Prydain books.

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posted by anansi at 5:52 PM on May 19, 2007

I loved Alexander's work as a child. The Prydain Chronicles gave me a sense of what growth and maturity entailed, since they followed the main character's coming of age. As he said: "I never saw fairy tales as an escape or a cop-out. . . . On the contrary, speaking for myself, it is the way to understand reality."

Let me also recommend The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha.
posted by anotherpanacea at 6:08 PM on May 19, 2007

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posted by logicpunk at 6:12 PM on May 19, 2007

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When I saw this yesterday, I burst into tears. I adored LA growing up.

Definitely have to run to the bookstore soon, and scoop up a bunch of reading material -- I loved the Prydain Chronicles, of course, but also Vesper Holly and his other stories.

Blessings on your way, Mr. Alexander.
posted by kalimac at 6:13 PM on May 19, 2007

I know that somewhere out there are grown-up versions of my grade school classmates who are every bit as sad to hear of Mr. Alexander's death as I am myself.

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posted by kittens for breakfast at 6:20 PM on May 19, 2007

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Approximately one dot for each time I read the Prydain Chronicles. Time to add another dot.

I met Mr. Alexander when I was about ten years old, at a book release party for one of his new books. My Dad brought me, and we brought along a hardcover set of the Prydain Chronicles, which Mr. Alexander had the graciousness to sign each volume of. Sadly, those have disappeared over the years.

A few years ago I realized how much the books had influenced my world view and my moral character. They are such great stories of friendship and commitment and community, of the deep value of having a small group of people with whom you accomplish a life work. I wrote to him to thank him for that, and he -- again graciously -- wrote back and thanked me for the letter. I'm very glad I did that.

My son is fourteen months old, and I'm already looking forward to giving him a copy.

Rest in Peace, Lloyd Alexander. Your life's work was well done, and many of us are better for it.
posted by alms at 6:54 PM on May 19, 2007

so it goes...

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posted by schyler523 at 7:15 PM on May 19, 2007

. (played Gurgi in my fourth-grade class play.)
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:56 PM on May 19, 2007

The Prydain Chronicles & Narnia were the first fantasy epics I ever read, and Prydain was the one that truly staggered me. At least doubled the size of my ten-year-old self's imagination. And so another well-earned . . .

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posted by gompa at 9:04 PM on May 19, 2007

Oh, so sad. My husband and I just finished re-reading the Prydain Chronicles. I remember dreaming, when I was a little girl, that I would meet Lloyd Alexander someday.
posted by Uccellina at 10:22 PM on May 19, 2007

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posted by killy willy at 10:25 PM on May 19, 2007

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posted by lapolla at 3:12 AM on May 20, 2007

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posted by willpie at 5:16 AM on May 20, 2007

Oh, his books are some of the best-written "kids" books around. I first encountered the books in 5th grade when I met some kids in a park role-playing some of the characters, and it got me curious. I'm now 31, and I reread the Prydain Chronicles every now and then for pure pleasure. Still rewarding, some 20 years after the first time I read them. Mr. Alexander: thank you, sir. Ave atque vale.

[BTW: The books are far better than the dismal Disney-fied mash-up of the first two Prydain books. The movie's bad qualities were all Disney; the books just aren't Disney material.]
posted by dilettanti at 8:56 AM on May 20, 2007

Taran Wanderer ruled.
posted by Mocata at 9:36 AM on May 20, 2007

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I loved his books throughout my childhood. One of my favorite books to this day is The First Two Lives of Lucas-Kasha.

Strangely, I watched the Disney film for the Black Cauldron for the first time just about a month go.

RIP, sir.
posted by dozo at 9:44 AM on May 20, 2007

Sad news, but thanks for the post, OrangeDrink, I hadn't heard. There were no Prydain books when I was a kid, but when I started reading them, at age 36, I thought it was the best series I'd ever discovered. Taran Wanderer was my favorite, since I'm a sucker for a good road book.

Years later, when I was reading them to my own kid, he got impatient at the daily ration and sneaked The Black Cauldron off to read it for himself. I came upstairs and found him absolutely pale, completely terrified by a description of the Cauldron-Born.

Such power and glory those books had. Amazing to think he joined the Army to become a better writer (even more so, that it worked); happy to hear too that it sounds like he had a long and good life.
posted by LeLiLo at 10:39 AM on May 20, 2007

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This is sad. I loved the Prydain books (I never really got that into Taran Wanderer, though, so everyone here saying it's their favorite makes me wonder if I just didn't get it. I should reread the whole series - it's probably been almost 10 years since I read it last) and also have fond memories of the Westmark triology, The Arkadians, and The Iron Ring.

To my fourth grade librarian, wherever you are now, thanks for introducing me to his books.
posted by naoko at 11:59 AM on May 20, 2007

You know, I usually don't give him credit, but Lloyd Alexander really is when the library in elementary school became a second home.
posted by ejaned8 at 2:48 PM on May 20, 2007

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I've been wanting to read them all again (would be the first time since Jr. High) but have been waiting until my daughter was old enough so we could read them together. Maybe she's old enough now...
posted by BaxterG4 at 6:57 PM on May 20, 2007

I remember being very young and finding Prydain at the Delaware State Library in the late 1960s.

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posted by Robert Angelo at 8:10 PM on May 20, 2007

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posted by EarBucket at 4:26 AM on May 21, 2007

Loved Prydain. Welsh speakers, is there a name for the realm of the dead with more positive connotations than Annuvin?

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posted by rossmik at 9:10 AM on May 21, 2007

Rossmik -- some quick research turns up Annwn as the only afterlife. Looks to be a kind of Summerlands, really; a beautiful place where everyone is young again, and eternally happy.

It is ruled by Arawn and later, Gwynn ap Nudd, and lies so far to the West that one can only get there by dying, or by finding a certain door.
posted by kalimac at 9:47 AM on May 21, 2007 [1 favorite]

I loved the Pyrdain books too. I remember trying to wrap my tongue around those names and often failing. How do you pronounce Eilonwy anyway?

I met him once about 10 years ago when I worked at Penguin and he was over in the kids book division signing copies of his newest book. He was the most gorgeous little man, tiny, but with a mane of silver hair, and I felt like I was seeing someone right out of one of his own books. A great Welsh king.

I think I need to go re-read the Chronicles.
posted by MsMolly at 10:01 AM on May 21, 2007

lloyd was my godfather. i am pretty wrecked.
posted by sdn at 11:26 AM on May 21, 2007

After twenty-five years of using the nickname, almost as many people as know my real name know me only as "Kestrel".

I can't understate the impact Lloyd's work had on me.
posted by ewagoner at 5:34 PM on May 21, 2007

So sad. I too loved Prydain as a kid and continued to reread the books as I continued to grow up. Great tales but also terrific guideposts to a kind of pure morality that is easy to overlook in real life. The series so affected me that at some point or other I've gotten three of the girls I've dated (including the current one) to read it, first for the story, and second (though I'd never explicitly say it) to get an idea of the kind of person I'd like to be.

Goodness. I got a hardcover compilation of all five books off of half.com a few years ago. I may have to bust it out again, just to remember.
posted by ajshankar at 12:22 AM on May 22, 2007