The Trumpeter of Krakow

by Eric P. Kelly

Book Overview

For well over thirty years, Eric P. Kelly's Newbery Award winner has brought the color and romance of ancient times to young readers. Today, The Trumpeter of Krakow is an absorbing and dramatic as when it was first published in 1928.

There was something about the Great Tarnov Crystal...Wise men spoke of it in hushed tones. Others were ready to kill for it. Now a murderous Tartar chief is bent on possessing it. But young Joseph Charnetski was bound by an ancient oath to protect the jewel at all costs.

When Joseph and his family seek refuge in medieval Krakow, they are caught up in the plots and intrigues of alchemists, hypnotists, and a dark messenger of evil. Will Joseph be able to protect the crystal, and the city, from the plundering Tartars?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689715714
• ISBN13: 9780689715716
• Release Date: April 1992
• Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A Tale Set in Medieval Poland

"The Trumpeter of Krakow," by Eric P. Kelly, is historical fiction set in Poland in the early 1460s. A family flees their estate in the Ukraine, then part of Poland, after being attacked by Tartars and takes refuge in Krakow. The Charnetski family is followed to Krakow as a bandit believes they hold a valuable treasure. The father, Pan Andrew, takes up employment as a trumpeter at the church that is known for its trumpeter that plays at each hour. Joseph learns from his father how to play the heynal with the broken note. Some two hundred years prior, when the Tartars were invading Krakow, the trumpeter played this song in the tower, but was cut short by the arrow of a Tartar. To this day, in honor of this trumpeter, at each hour the same heynal is played and even cut short much as it was in the 13th century. Joseph befriends an alchemist and his niece Elzbietka, who help them find a place to live in the city, on the floor just below theirs. As the story unfolds, the Charnetski's are sought out by the terrible Tartar bandit and unknowingly influenced by the world of alchemy. "The Trumpeter of Krakow" is categorized as a children's book (ages 8-12), but the vocabulary level of the book would make me think otherwise. A motivated reader should not find this to be a problem. The story is entertaining, so I would not dismiss it simply because it is labeled a children's book.

Voices from the past

I read this book in sixth grade, and though I am now twenty-six years old, it is still, in my opinion, one of the best books I have ever read. Anyone familiar with the history of Edward Kelly, partner of the Elizabethan necromancer John Dee, will enjoy this book in extra dimensions, as would anyone well acquainted with the apocalyptic imagery of Ezekiel. The settings have lost none of their stark horror or beauty on the walls of my memory, the urgency of the threats seem none the less real. It's a priceless story of bravery, resilience, and ultimately sacrifice, and I look forward to reading it again.

1929 Newbery Medal--Wonderful, interesting for all ages.

In the 13th century (1241), a Polish boy was killed by the arrow of an invading Tartar from the East, silencing his trumpet a few notes short of completion of the "Heynal," the Hymn to Our Lady, as he stood on a little balcony of the Church of Our Lady Mary in Krakow, Poland. Ever since that event subsequent trumpeters have stopped at the same point in the Heynal as it is sounded four times on the hour, all day and night as a signal that all is well. This legend is based in history. The story of Joesph Charnetski-Kowalski, set in 1461, is fictional. Joseph's father, Pan Andrew Charnetski is the guardian of the Great Tarnov Crystal, which has been in his family's safekeeping for over 200 years. When Tarnov fell to the Tartars, the gem was entrusted to a Charnetski to hide until such time as its whereabouts became known, at which time it was to be given to the the King of Poland (Kazimir Jagiello in the story). Pan Andrew, his wife, and son Joseph are driven from their farm in the Ukraine by Tartars who burned their home and destroyed their fields. Fleeing to the city for safety, they assume a new surname in Krakow and Andrew becomes the new church trumpeter. The family lives in a house with alchemist Nicholas Kreutz and his niece Elzbietka. The crystal, a stone of tremendous importance and power, is the object of pursuit by Bogdan the Terrible (Peter of the Button Face). When he discovers the Charnetskis' location and tries to steal the Crystal from them, one-third of Krakow burns to the ground. Danger and intrigue follow the Charnetski family; readers of all ages will enjoy this story. That there is a basis in fact/history for the novel makes it even more fascinating. Treat yourself or a pre-teen/teenager to this award-winning book!

This is a good book for young teens.

This book is really great.It is in the midevil times.The book is about this family who's house got burned down by the Tartars and the family came to Krakow,a city in Poland.The boy's name is Philip Charnetski and he finds the house for his mother and father and the wolf dog that he found,but he had some trouble on the way.His family had to change their names because they were being hunted for their pumpkin because it had some sort of value .Philip's father got a night job he was a trumpeter for the church of our lady Mary.So they stayed in a monestary with a monk for the time being.