Amazon.co.uk Review
While Philip Pullman's greatest popularity is as a creator of novel-length magical realism for young adults, such as
The Northern Lights, he continues to explore and stretch the limits of other children's and young adult genres.
Clockwork is no exception. With its inspiration lying solidly in the German romantic tradition of E.T.A. Hoffmann and the Brothers Grimm, the story begins, as all good fairy tales do, with someone whose human weakness sets events inescapably in motion. As the townspeople of Glockenheim gather in the White Horse Tavern on the eve of the unveiling of a new figure for their great town clock, Karl, the clockmaker's apprentice, reveals to Fritz, a young storyteller, that he has not been able to construct the figure. A new clock figure is expected of all apprentices, and Karl is the first in hundreds of years to fail. Fritz, in his turn, has the beginnings of a new story to tell, and as it rolls off his tongue, its dark antagonist materializes and offers Karl his dearest wish. Not surprisingly, Karl's Faustian pact brings him destruction, but an innocent child is the
deus ex machina that saves another child and the spirit of the town from seemingly ineluctable oblivion. With its eerie black-and-white illustrations by Leonid Gore and its happily-ever-after ending to some thrilling suspense,
Clockwork is a fine fairy tale for younger children and a thought- provoking twist on the art of narrative for older ones. --
Barrie Trinkle
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
From the master storyteller comes a tale of gothic mystery as elegantly crafted as the most intricate clockwork. A tormented apprentice clock-maker - and a deadly knight in armour. A mechanical prince - and the sinister Dr Kalmenius, who some say is the devil- Compelling characters and superbly constructed narrative create a story that is funny, frightening, exciting, and clever. A gem.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
by Philip Pullman
by Philip Pullman
by Philip Pullman
by Philip Pullman
by Philip Pullman
