The Truthful Harp

The Chronicles of Prydain

by Lloyd Alexander

The king of a small land in Prydain, unable to pass the test to be a bard, is given a harp whose strings keep breaking as he speaks.

Genres: Fantasy, Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens, Music, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Lloyd Chudley Alexander was an influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books. His most famous contribution to the field of children's literature is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. The concluding book of the series, The High King , was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1969. Alexander's other books have also won the National Book Award and the American Book Award. He was also one of the creators of Cricket Magazine.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chosen for the illustrator, but Ness used a more hyper, or free & loose, style here. And I didn't care for it. The story is long for a picture-book, but not overly complicated, ages 4 up should have no trouble with it. And they might like it more than did. For some reason I was sorta bored, even though it was, objectively speaking, funny and exciting with an appealing main character.

[Greg Kerestan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike the titular gardener of "Coll and His White Pig," Fflewdur Fflam, braggart bard and inept king, has always felt like a trifle of a character. As such, giving him a stand-alone origin story in the classic fairy-tale style didn't feel like quite as much of a stretch. This is still inherently disposable when compared to the rest of the Chronicles, but nonetheless a charming book, and a better introduction for little ones to the Chronicles of Prydain... if they're not quite ready for "The Book of Three" yet.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The language was relatively rich and vivid in this story. My 5-, 6-, and 8-yr old and I enjoyed the story. I also like that the story highlighted the good of sacrificially helping others and remaining humble about it in a way the kids could understand.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the little look into Fflewddur's life, but I was hoping it would connect back to how he got inot Spiral Castle. I wanted just a little more on that. Still, it was nice to actually his kingdom because the other books never really go there.

[Rubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another story I had apparently already read in The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain. I didn't really like the art style though 😅
This was like Pinocchio but instead of his nose the Harp made it obvious when the MC lied or embellished a bit haha

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is completely incidental to the novels, and does not need to be read in order to enjoy Alexander's Prydain. I like the Evaline Ness illustrations though. But the story left me flat.

[Gr1972 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice wee backstory with some nice illustrations too. But probably okay to just skip to reading it in the omnibus of short stories instead of on its own :)

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prelude to the Chronicles of Prydain. Before readers meet Taran of Caer Dallben, Fflewdder Fflam is given a harp after falling to become a bard.

He has a few slight adventures and whenever he seeks to embellish the facts to "give them color", harp strings break.

In speaking with the Chief Bard at Caer Dathyl, Fflewdder realizes the truth and still needs to wean himself from the habit of embellishment since he doesn't like the strings breaking (as we see in the books).

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story by my favorite author, but for younger kids.

[roopa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chronicles of Prydain, inspired by the Mabinogion