Redwall
by Brian Jacques
Illustrated by Gary Chalk
Cover Illustration by Pete Lyon
416 pages
Copyright 1986
Redwall is an epic tale that begins at Redwall Abbey where Matthias, a young male mouse, is preparing for a great feast. With the help of his friend, Brother Alf (his full name is Mordalfus), he catches a fully-grown grayling. The grayling is then prepared to be the main course of the feast, for many from far and wide, including the Churchmouse family, from Saint Ninians Church.
Unfortunately, evil is coming their way.....
"Cluny the Scourge" a giant rat, many times larger than any other, with only a left eye -- his right eye lost in a battle long past -- carries a pole topped with a ferret's skull, and uses his immense tail as a whip, with a poisoned barb fitted to its tip. This great warlord leads an army of four hundred rats, ferrets, weasels, and stoats, which is rapidly approaching Redwall Abbey un-noticed.
Cluny the Scourge was thought to be only an old wive's tale, until young Matthias saw him. As a group of Redwallers were escorting their guests home, a large wagon pulled by a terrorized black horse, burst out of nowhere, noisily passing the Redwallers. The escort returns immediately to Redwall to report what they have seen. At the mention of Cluny the Scourge, everybody takes the whole incident as a joke, and laughs heartily at Sister Clemence's remark, "Perhaps Cluny is coming to get us for staying up late."
Once the Abbey's residents do become aware of Cluny's approach, they all puzzle on what to do: The most common conclusion is to abandon the Abbey, and find a new dwelling. But Matthias has other ideas. With the help of some others, he convinces those in the Abbey to make preparations to ward off the horde.
Meanwhile, Matthias tries to decode the many ancient inscriptions on walls, behind paintings, and other places throughout the Abbey. These inscriptions are believed to be written by Martin the Warrior himself. Every inscription is written in the form of a puzzle, and when the puzzle is solved, Matthias discovers that he must climb the heights of the Abbey tower, and find the sword of Martin the Warrior there. Unfortunately, a group of violent, and very dangerous sparrows known as the "Sparra" live up there always guarding the sword of Martin. And so the battle begins.....
Fan Comments
Max Heiber from New Hartford, Ct. wrote:"Redwall, because it kept me at the edge of my seat with excitement, but Mom said she missed me"
Wendy Ross from Ft. Fairfield, Maine wrote:
"Redwall is my favorite, because it's always the one that gets my students hooked."
Michael Boguslavsky from Queens, New York wrote:
"I enjoyed the clever riddles Martin set for those who were to find his sword."
J Bono from Richmond, Virginia wrote:
"Cluny the Rat is a thoroughly believable villain. Only genuine villains bring out the noble qualities in heroes."
Kathleen Armstrong from St. Louis, Missouri wrote:
"I am a 5th grade teacher and my students love this book each year and go on to read all of them.
Joe Goins from Lynnwood, Washington wrote:
"It was the one that brought me to Mossflower country and invited me to pull up a chair and rest awhile with a mug of Ambrose's best October Ale. I can stay as long as I like; trade stories with Basil Stag Hare; ring the Methuselah & Matthias bells; or help myself to some Potato-Turnip-Beet-Radish-Deeper-than-ever-pie. Redwall Abbey is a wonderful place, and I can't wait to bring my children here. (I'm 33, my son is 19 months)"
American Edition |
German Edition |
Books by Brian Jacques
- Redwall (1986)
- Mossflower (1988)
- Mattimeo (1989)
- Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales (1991)
- Mariel of Redwall (1991)
- Salamandastron (1992)
- Martin the Warrior (1993)
- The Bellmaker (1994)
- Outcast of Redwall (1995)
- The Great Redwall Feast (1996)
- The Pearls of Lutra (1996)
- The Long Patrol (1997)
- Marlfox (1998)
- The Legend of Luke (1999)
- Lord Brocktree (2000)
- Taggerung (2001)
- Castaways of the Flying Dutchman (2001)
- A Redwall Winter's Tale (2001)
- Triss (2002)
- Angel's Command (2003)
- Loamhedge (2003)
- Urso Brunov (2003)
- Rakkety Tam (2004)
- High Rhulain (September 20, 2005)
