Howard Pyle Books

This was the original 1913 title of the book which in 1927, was changed by JBC to DOMNEI.

In "Le roman de lusignan" (1546), Nicolas de Caen illustrated the concept of DOMNEI in the tale of Perion and Melicent. Unfortunately, the original work only survived in fragments, so in the 20th century, James Branch Cabell conducted a search of the literature from the 15th century to the 19th, and found 20 sources which shed light on the events chronicled in the fragments.

Perion, the embodiement of Chivalry, took the blame for a crime and became a forest outlaw. Once, to avoid capture, he waylayed and assumed the identity of the Vicomte de Puysange and secured entrance to the palace of Count Emmerick of Poictesme where the betrothal of the count's sister Melicent to King Theodoret was being celebrated. Before the celebration had ended, Perion asked Melicent's help to flee the country. She was smitten by love for him and agreed to do it. She tried to flee with him, but her cousin, the warrior-bishop Ayrart de Montors, managed to prevent such an event and Perion boarded a ship to take command of a band of mercenaries. Before the ship reached its destination, it was attacked by three ships of the pro-consul Demetrios--an embodiement of Gallantry, and Perion became his prisoner and assigned to perform menial tasks for the pro-consul. Demetrios was the pro-consul of Naucaria in Anatolia--a surviving fragment of the Roman Empire in which the pagan religion still flourished. Melicent learned of Perion's capture, disguised herself as a young man and sought out Demetrios. She tried to ransom Perion with jewels, but Demetrios saw through her disguise and forced her to marry him to secure Perion's release. From that point on, Perion and Demetrios became two dogs fighting over a bone with dire consequences for many. The twists and turns of the story with its wealth of characters and events never falters.

To Have and To Hold is an adventure tale for all ages. My parents read it to my brother and me as a bedtime story when we were 8 and 10 (a bit exciting before sleep yet a good carrot - "settle down if you want to hear more tomorrow"). It has one of the most satisfying villains of all time (one you love to hate), comedy, adventure of all kinds, and - eventually - true romance. It has Indians, pirates, poison, swordfights, abuse of power, ventriloquism, daring escapes and, at the end of it, justice and true love triumph. A movie was made but of course they couldn't cram it all in.
Although the story has a slow start, it picks up speed in Chapter 2, when the hero discharges a gambling debt by traveling to Jamestown to pay the passage of one of 90 young women brought to the colony in 1619 by the Virginia Company of London to marry the colonists. The imported brides were supposed to encourage colonists to become husbands and found families, thereby becoming more likely to remain in Virginia and sustain the colony's growth (and consequent company profits). The book covers a very exciting period in American colonial history. The story is strong, funny, human, and interesting with unforgettable characters.

It's a story about a young man named Myles Falworth. His father is blind and outlawed for a reason Myles finds out later in the book. It's about his growing up (he hates to be ordered about by his superiors) and becoming a knight and restoring his fathers honor. It's an interesting read, but sort of hard to understand as the characters speak in old English. (for sooth, thee, thou, methinks, ect.)

This book was a great read! Acceptable for all ages, it's interesting, and very detailed giving the reader a clear perspective of what life was like in the early 1400's. I highly recommend this book to anyone. My only regret is that it wasn't longer.

I probably read this book one hundred times throughout my preteen & teenage years. It resonates primarily within the imagination of young men.

My adoration of this book may explain why I travel the modern streets of Detroit on horseback carrying a lance. Insanity is a another explanation.

You early teens son/brother/nephew/etc will love this book. It ignites imagination.

Howard Pyle's Men of Iron is a lesser-known classic, originally published in 1891. The style is reflective of both the time it was written in and the time the story takes place in, and so takes a bit of getting used to, but it flows well and soon you're immersed well into both periods: the later age of chivalry of the 14th century as well as the late 1800's when books for boys centering on rags-to-riches tales and offering moral examples to live up to were popular. Basically, think Horatio Alger and Mallory blended together in a single novel.

I liked the fact that Pyle gives shading to most of the characters in the book, making them believable in their motivations and not mere sterotypes cast in black and white. Myles Falworth, the young hero-to-be, has his noble side but is also quick-tempered and stubborn to a fault. The Earl of Mackworth, who takes him in and sees to his training, is something of a schemer and has his own agenda in which Myles is to play a part. And even the great wrong Myles' family suffered is cast in such a light that Myles can see that the King may have had good reason for acting as he did. Even the outright villain, the Earl of Alben, is shown as not being entirely without reason for his actions.

The best thing though about the novel is the way it immerses the reader in the life and training of a knight in a noble household in the late medieval era. The language used by the characters, their attitudes and their roles in society are all true to the time, and Pyle works in an enormous amount of factual detail into the descriptions of how they lived, what they wore, the rules by which they lived, and so on. The details on the ceremony in which Myles is knighted, the first tournament joust he participates in, and the final trial by combat in which he vindicates his father are truly worth the read for anyone who wants to know what these were like and for anyone who cherishes historical accuracy. As an example, this description of the field where the trial by combat was to take place:

"The lists were laid out in the usual form. The true or principal list in which the combatants were to engage was sixty yards long and forty yards wide; this rectangular space being surrounded by a fence about six feet high, painted vermilion. Between the fence and the stan where the King and the spectators sat, and surrounding the central space, was the outer or false list, also surrounded by a fence. In the false list the Constable and the Marshal and their followers and attendants were to be stationed at the time of battle to preserve the general peace during the contest between the principals."

Even a hundred-plus years after its original publication, Men of Iron still has much to offer to readers who enjoy tales of knights and the age of chivalry, and to readers who want to know what it was like for a boy of the time whose coming of age was to become one of those knights. Recommended.

this is a great book!Howard Pyle is now my favorite auther because i read The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood and Men of Iron.Both books are great.this book takes place in midevil times.Myles Falworth is a young boy that is sent to be a page for the Earl of Mackworth.he has many adventures there and goes on to be a knight. I will say no more or else I will spoil it if you read it.THIS IS A GREAT BOOK!!!

Great looking book, unnfortunately it is not the edition we need fo my son's class

I read three versions of the Arthurian legends recently, and this one was the weakest. The language is somewhere between Malory's archaic form and modern prose, but does not succeed well at being either. The tales were also, in my opinion, less well told than in the others.

For your consideration, I read La Morte D'Arthur in an abridged version and Roger Lancelyn Green's "King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table" from the Puffin Classics series. I enjoyed Green's telling the best, as it was credibly compiled from a number of works (including Malory) and had some excellent atmospheric illustrations. Though it is a Puffin Classics edition, I did not find the usual condescension or "dumbing down" that often occurs in youth literature.

Get Green's version. It was just as cheap right here on Amazon, and well worth every penny.

This novel is about King Arthur and his knights - more specifically the tale of how Arthur became king and found excaliber and various stories about some of his knights, Merlin, and others. While not the traditional tale, a very good compilation of short stories about a variety of the characters. Would highly recommend.

While this book is intended for kids, adults will probably appreciate it as well...I know I did. If you've tried to wade through Mallory's Le Mort d'Arthur recently, you might agree that it can be relatively slow going and tedious reading at times. Pyle's version of the tales are excellent, and can be read much more easily (and in my opinion with more entertainment) than Mallory's book. I'd recommend this to anyone, young or old, who likes adventure stories and wants to start or continue learning about the Arthurian legends.

Howard Pyle delivers yet another splendid book which recaptures the enchantment and chivalry of the legend of Kind Arthur and his knights. Some have complained of the archaic english, but I love it. It only adds to the magic of Pyle's story. This book is filled with the adventures of noble knights, and it does an amazing job of keeping your interest. Somehow, even after many previous jousts and sword matches, Pyle makes each one more interesting than the last.

I also love the "moral of the story" section he does at the end of most major book divisions. He did not do that in the other Pyle book I have read (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood), and I very much liked them. In such he made allegories of Excalibur and its sheath (to God's Truth and faith), and does likewise with many things, always wishing to teach to us some truth through his writings about Arthur and his knights. I also loved the oath of the knights of the Round Table:

"And this was the covenant of their Knighthood of the Round Table: That they would be gentle unto the weak; that they would be courageous unto the strong; that they would be terrible unto the wicked and the evil-doer that they would defend the helpless who should call upon them for aid; that all women should be held unto them sacred; that they would stand unto the defence of one another whensoever such defence should be required; that they would be merciful unto all men; that they would be gentle of deed, true in friendship, and faithful in love. This was their covenant, and unto it each knight sware upon the cross of his sword, and in witness thereof did kiss the hilt thereof."

This except, I think, well sums up this book, in which these oaths are held, and if they are not, retribution always follows swiftly. In the land of Camelot, good deeds before God are of highest value, and wicked deeds are always subject to disapproval and punishment.

As an elementary and junior high school teacher, I have read and re-read hundreds of the best children's books, scores of them aloud to my classes. In my opinion "Otto of the Silver Hand" is the most perfect book ever written for children. The story is engaging and inspiring, the flavor of the middle ages comes through in the language, and the illustrations are classic. This is a book no 9 to 14-year-old child should miss, and it is a rewarding read also for any thoughtful adult who has an interest in history or literature.

There are many reviews that describe how wonderful this book is, which it truly is. However, there are phrases and words out of use, such words as dost, thou, weasand, and phrases such as "mare's egg". More importantly, there are many gaps in the book that all but the most precocious 8 year old reader will not be able to cross, leaving them lost in the story. It might work to read to younger children and explain the gaps, but certainly not to 4 year olds.

I can only describe this book as being written out of love, though modern readers may object to absolute "goods" that are identified in the book. Two are the monastery and the King. The later is much the same as the Disney/Grim's fairy tales ilk.

There is a fair amount of implied violence in the book, though only one explicit scene comes to mind, when the father, to save the life of his son, sacrifices himself to his arch enemy.

for the student that is studying middle ages. A story of loss, revenge, and forgiveness. We read this together as a family for our unit study on the Middle Ages.

Do you want an historically accurate and masculine story? This isn't it. If you want a fun story with swoopingly goopy prose and fantastic illustrations, this is it. I wouldn't call on Otto to save me from a burning building, but I like his drooling story and Howard Pyle's ridiculously awesome sketches.

Howard Pyle is one of my favorite authors, as he has splendid archaic English prose and beautful illustrations in all of his books. Otto of the Silver Hand is no exception, and is rather a devation from his normal books. Unlike Robin Hood and His Merry Men, his King Arthur books, or Men in Iron, this book has few battle scenes and is mostly about character development and the setting of the Middle Ages. It tells the story of Otto, the young son of a robber baron, who grows up in a monestary and is thrust out into the world. He finds it a cruel place, and much evil comes to him. Meanwhile, Pyle is through the whole book trying to show that strength of character is stronger than strength of sword, and that the silver hand is more desirable than the iron fist. It is a wonderful book, with wonderful illustrations by Pyle himself. I definitely recommend this, as well as Pyle other works.

Overall grade: A.

N.C. Wyeth is the top of the heap when it comes to illustrators. A visit to his Brandywine museum reveals his work to be even more stunning in real life. There is not a good retrospective collection of his work--even in the Brandywine bookstore--and I was hoping this book would be one.

I was sorely disappointed.

Having Pyle in the book, and seeing the work of the student compared to his master is really great. It offers important insight into the development of N.C. as an artist.

The inclusion of Andrew can't be too criticized, his work is fantastic. I have been a fan of his for a long time. However, as an illustrator, I was looking more for the other commercial illustrators who worked in the "Wyeth Tradition."

I revile James's work. The fact that any pages of this book were wasted with his paintings made this book repugnant to me.

So, for me, the book doesn't make sense.

Pyle, to N.C., professional illustrators.

N.C. to his son and grandson, we veer of that path. As an illustrator and one who worships at the feet of N.C. Wyeth, I wanted to stay on it. (The argument could be made, and probably has, that all are a descendant artistically of Pyle, and while there is some merit, sure, I say--for the most part--balderdash!!!)

This is not a comprehensive N.C. Wyeth, nor illustrators of his time, book.

BAH!

The images floor me. If a picture is worth a thousand words.... then this collection speaks incalculable volumes.

We saw the exhibit in September and I bought the book as a reminder of the awe and joy I felt looking at the originals. The book lives up to the exhibit. A feast for the eyes, the book captures well the power and talent of Pyle and the Wyeths.

For many years it has been the practice of critics and art aficionados to relegate "popular artists" the likes of Norman Rockwell and the Wyeth clan to the bin of kitsch. Time heals and alters and distance is kind as the current resurgence of appreciation of these and other artists of the land testifies. Norman Rockwell now is considered an important American artist, sensitive to basic issues of what makes America the land of the common man's dream. With this beautifully designed and written tome the same adulation should follow for the Wyeth clan. The authors (Betsy Wyeth among them) had the good idea to show the seeds of the very familiar Wyeth imagery in the work of Howard Pyle, an artist known primarily as an illustrator along the lines of over the edge fantasy adventure books. His pupil N.C. Wyeth took up the torch, primarily emulating Pyle's style but taking it to a new level. His works of isolation, thwarted desire, and simple American traditions are absorbed by his son Andrew Wyeth who won favor among collectors of realist art during the time the country was running after Modernism, Expresionism, Abstraction. And finally Jaime Wyeth, son of Andrew, has been a constant presence with his quasi-surreal take on many of the same subjects as his progenitors. The circle comes round with Pyle and Jaime Wyeth embracing the more perverse subjects - an interesting century wheel turning round and round.

The color reproductions are generous and well selected. Many of the well know Wyeth images are excluded, but in their place we are treated to images we have never seen. This is a beautiful volume and a tender one, a memento of what our childhood in the 20th Century was like before the madness currently painted hit.

For the non-art initiated, the book is a feast for the imagination as well as the eyes. I bought the book because I come from the mid-coast of Maine, like the Wyeths. But when I took the time to look at the book on a night we lost power due to a snow storm, I found the views conjured stories up in my mind to match the Wondrously Strange images. I've driven by the Wyeth Center a thousand times, but made a point to visit to see for my self. I'm also fortunate to have a copy signed by Jamie Wyeth, and hope to keep as a treasure for a long time.

I bought two copies of this book, one to keep and one to share, because I loved it so much. I've been a Tolkien fan for 34 years, and have tried mostly in vain since then to find other fantasy stories I could love. I suspect, though I don't know, that this story may have influenced Tolkien (it predates him.) If you loved Roverandom and Smith of Wooton Major and Book of Lost Tales, you'll love this haunting story.

One thing I especially liked is that the hero of the story, though it's not entirely clear, seems to be a Downs child. It is clear that he was modeled after Pyle's own son, who died young. This would be an inspiring story for a child who is a little different from other children.

Dear Amazon,

I wrote the orginal (and so far only) review for "The Garden Behind The Moon" by Howard Pyle on this site. From the begining, my name was credited as the author of the review. Today I looked at it, and saw I've been reduced to an "Amazon.com customer". Can I go back to being listed as the author of the review? I am "Chris Huston, Waterford, PA."

Thanks,

Chris

I'm very lucky. I have an original edition of this book...published in 1903. My grandfather read it to my father, who read it to me, and now I've read it to my children. As much as I loved this book as a boy, I love it more as an adult. This is a story of a shy, sensitive child who endures the taunts of other children, and who runs away to meet the man in the moon, live in the moonhouse, and ultimately to become a man and claim his destiny in the garden on the other side of the moon. Modern kids who live on Nintendo and R-rated movies will struggle at first to adjust to the delicate childishness (in the best sense) of the language and plot, but this is a book that is hard not to love. Read it, and you'll never look at the reflection of moonlight on the water in the same way again. Pyle's illustrations are at least as valuable as his text. They add to the sense of tender melancholy that pervades this book. Pyle fans who are used to his swashbuckling adventures are in for something very different here. The best way for a child to absorb this book is sitting next to his mom or dad on the couch, an arm around his shoulder, listening to the words while studying the pictures. If Pyle's other books are like Wagner's The Ride Of The Valkeries, then The Garden Behind The Moon is like Erik Satie's Trois Gymnopedies.

It starts off with the birth of a soon to be king,Arthur. The book tells about Arthur,his life, and it told how he died. I think Howard Pyle is a great writer. I wrote this review as a responce to the book

I grew up reading the Howard Pyle tellings of the Robin Hood stories so I was initially drawn to this audio collection by the author. But the real star here is the extraordinary voice of Ian Richardson whose range of expression and intonation give the stories added richness and depth. If you have ever watched Masterpiece Theater, you will have seen Richardson - he is currently appearing in a cameo role as the Chancellor in Bleak House. If you love good acting and good story-telling, this is the collection for you. If you find that you agree with my enthusiasm for Richardson, he has equally entrancing audio CDs of Machiavelli's The Prince and Dickens' Tale of Two Cities.

Being a fan of adventure fiction, I could not ignore this truly vintage tale. This is the story of many of the adventures of Robin Hood and his merry men. I must say, as usual, the movies can't hold a candle to the book. Hollywood has also chosen to ignore Robin Hood's attitude toward the church and clergy, which were important issues in his day. Written in the 18th century, it takes a little getting used to the language, but it quickly becomes part of the ambience as Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck, and the scores of merry men began to charm me.

Like all good storytellers, Pyle pulls us in with glamour first, making us fall for Robin Hood and his good, stout yeomen for their light spirits and good deeds, before showing us their darker side, taking us along while they rob the rich, after first seducing us with the laughter and free-flowing ale after the fact. The story reads like a fairy tale, with Robin Hood and the merry men doing a lot of lying around in the grass waxing merry when they aren't feasting and sucking down mass quantities of ale and good, stout March beer. Of course, given the times, everyone drank beer, ale, or wine nearly all the time. Why not? They walked everywhere.

Naturally, Hollywood has also played up the romance angle between Robin Hood and Maid Marian, but in this book, Robin's lady love gets barely a mention. Females aren't totally left out, Queen Eleanor being an especially engaging character, but mostly these are stories of battles and games of skill played out by men, done with good humor that even had me laughing out loud.

This book has stood the test of time and deserves respect for that, but it is also engaging even today. It was easy to transport myself to the English woods of the thirteenth century when life was simple and one could avoid the law simply by changing his clothes and adopting an alias. With some enigmatic actors and a script that stayed true to the book, this would make a wonderful movie to outshine all those other namby-pamby Robin Hoods. It would be fun to see these stories on the big screen with some quality talent. I guess, though, I will have to be content, as others have for centuries, with my imagination to see the vivid characters in this wonderful book in action.

Howard Pyle has put together a bunch of Robin Hood tales, legends and songs, and turned it into a book that is basically aimed at young readers. It is certainly enjoyable, and plenty of people should enjoy Robin Hood and his Merry Men running around in the forest causing trouble for those Sheriff types and others. Definitely fun.

This is a fine retelling of the Robin Hood story, with all the familar characters (Robin, Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet and the rest, minus Maid Marion). Pyle has done a great job of bringing together the many legends and writing a coherent tale with language that speaks to the old period, but is easily understandable by modern readers. Kids, and adults letting themselves be kids for a while, will enjoy Robin's bold adventures and narrow escapes, the triumph of good over evil (most of the time), and the happy flouting of authority. Adults may want to read these stories with younger kids, explaining what conditions were in those days. Without this, young readers may be puzzled why Robin was constantly stealing from, and harassing, the priests and authorities of the day. Discussion will prevent young readers from taking away the wrong message. Pyle gives some discussion, but perhaps not enough, to justify Robin's behavior.

Robin Hood is an adventurous, quick-acting book which changes emotions really quickly. Robin Hood is an archer who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. The Sheriff of Nottingham, along with Prince John, is plotting to take Robin Hood to jail and steal all of his money. Then there's Robin Hood's girlfriend, Maid Maiden, who loves Robin Hood and wants to marry him.
I think it was a great book. The moral it shows you is never brag about yourself - there may be someone better than you. I recommend this book for the Knights of the Round Table and everybody who wants a quick-witted adventure.
By Connor

Pyle's Robin Hood is a lovable soul, with a child's simplicity and a man's heart. The scenes are vivid, the characters lively, and the tales timeless. It's not Crime and Punishment, but it was never meant to be. Read Pyle's introductory warning, and decide for yourself if you will join him in his wandering through Sherwood Forest.

This book was written in 1879 and reflects a common intrepratation of English history at the time. Indeed, it is very similar to the view the founding fathers took of the events covered in this history. All too often, it is assumed that modern interpretations of history are somehow objective and unbiased. All historians write from their worldview, and there is nothing that says a naturalist/atheistic perspective is somehow more valid than the perspective that God directs that events of history for a purpose. The latter view is much closer to what was held by many of the people (Reformers, Pilgrims, & Catholics) that this history is about, and therefore, in my opinion, is capable of a deeper understanding of the motivation of these people to act against injustice. It is by reading books written by people in ages other than our own that we gain the perspective necessary to analize our own cultures assumptions and beliefs.

Wonderfully written and easy to read for late elementary through highschool.

GREAT book, we read it to our children and learned right along with them. History told in a story-like fashion, lots of interesting details, must have for the home library!

This book should be placed in the historical fiction section. It is NOT a history book! The author was so skewed and biased that it was laughable. I would not recommend that this book be used for any serious history class. His portrayal of the Roman Catholic Church was very biased as he narrated his own perspective on history. It was hard to take him very seriously because of his own personal prejudices. Homeschoolers beware!

Students must read this before they study American history....