Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Abelard - schuman (1976)
Description
Prince Michael is accompanied by the palace cat and a wise old mare on a long and dangerous search for the elusive Under People.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Written when Joan Aiken was seventeen, this charming and light-hearted fantasy novel relates how the kingdom of Astalon was saved from the invading forces of the Under People through the efforts of young Prince Michael, Mickle the palace cat, the wise horse Minerva, and a host of other helpful
An excellent book for young readers with a taste for anthropomorphic animal fantasy, The Kingdom and the Cave is an engaging story. I was delighted to discover that Aiken includes an intelligent rat named Professor Nicodemus in her story, and found myself wondering whether this was an inspiration for Robert C. O'Brien, whose own animal-fantasy novel for children, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, included an important rat character by that name...
As Aiken was born in 1924, this novel would have been written in 1941, although I believe that it first saw print in 1960, published by Abelard Schuman of London. O'Brien's book was first published in 1971, so it is possible that his choice was a tribute to Aiken. If not, it must rank as one of those happy cases of serendipitous synchronicity.
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animals.An excellent book for young readers with a taste for anthropomorphic animal fantasy, The Kingdom and the Cave is an engaging story. I was delighted to discover that Aiken includes an intelligent rat named Professor Nicodemus in her story, and found myself wondering whether this was an inspiration for Robert C. O'Brien, whose own animal-fantasy novel for children, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, included an important rat character by that name...
As Aiken was born in 1924, this novel would have been written in 1941, although I believe that it first saw print in 1960, published by Abelard Schuman of London. O'Brien's book was first published in 1971, so it is possible that his choice was a tribute to Aiken. If not, it must rank as one of those happy cases of serendipitous synchronicity.
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LibraryThing member jrbeach
One of my favorite books, from the early sixties. I repeatedly took it out of the library. I'm afraid to find a copy and re-read it today, for fear it will be a disapointment now.
Subjects
Awards
Original publication date
1960
Local notes
Mickle, the Palace cat finds a mysterious message telling of a threat to the Kingdom of Astalon by the Under People. Prince Michael is helped by Mickle and his other animal friends Minerva the horse, Prince Nicodemus the water rat and many more, to rescue the King and Queen from danger when he learns the Universal Animal Language and joins his friends in battles and magic ceremonies to defeat the enemy.
Aiken's first published children's novel, written originally when she was 17.
Aiken's first published children's novel, written originally when she was 17.