Endymion Spring facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Matthew Skelton |
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| Cover artist | Bill Sanderson |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy literature |
| Publisher | Delacorte Press |
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Publication date
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2006 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 448 pp |
Endymion Spring is an exciting fantasy novel written by the English Canadian author Matthew Skelton. It was first published in 2006. This book tells two amazing stories at once, hundreds of years apart!
Contents
The Story of Endymion Spring
Endymion Spring has a unique double storyline. One part of the story happens in modern-day Oxford, England. It follows two children, Blake and his younger sister Duck Winters. Blake is twelve years old.
Blake and Duck's Adventure
Blake and Duck find a very strange book in a library at St Jerome's College. This book is called Endymion Spring. They soon discover it's no ordinary book. It holds a secret: it can lead them to a book containing all the knowledge in the world!
Their adventure quickly turns into a race. They must find this powerful book. But they also have to protect it from a mysterious "Person in Shadow." This person has a dark heart and wants the book's knowledge and power for evil reasons.
Endymion Spring's Journey
The second part of the story takes us back in time, about 600 years ago. It follows a young boy named Endymion Spring. He is a "printer's devil," which means he works as an apprentice in Johannes Gutenberg's printing workshop.
Endymion's journey begins in his hometown of Mainz, Germany. He travels all the way to Oxford, which was a small settlement of monks back then. His story takes place around 1453. This was a very important time, as it was when the printing press was first becoming popular.
Meet the Characters
Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in Endymion Spring:
- Blake Winters – He is a twelve-year-old boy and the main character of the modern story. Blake finds the mysterious book, which starts the whole adventure.
- Duck Winters – Blake's younger sister. Her real name isn't known, so everyone calls her Duck. She is very smart and loves to show off her intelligence. She often wears a bright yellow raincoat.
- Juliet Winters/Sommers – Blake and Duck's mother. She was part of a special group called the Ex Libris Society.
- Christopher Winters – Blake and Duck's father. Blake often sends him letters and postcards during the story. He was also a member of the Ex Libris Society.
- Diana Bentley – She is known as the "Person in Shadow." She is also Sir Giles's wife.
- Sir Giles Bentley – A man who loves collecting books. He was one of the people who started the Ex Libris Society.
- Jolyon Fall – A man who becomes friends with Blake. He knows a lot about the Endymion Spring book and its secrets.
- George Psalmanazar – Another person chosen by the Endymion Spring book, just like Blake.
- Alice – Psalmanazar's loyal dog. She always wears a red bandana.
- Paula Roberts – The librarian at the Bodleian Library. She looks after Blake and Duck while their mother works.
- Mephistopheles – The library's cat. This cat often sneaks into the library and causes a bit of mischief. The author based this cat on a real college cat named Pogo from Somerville College, Oxford.
- Johann Gutenberg – Endymion Spring's master. He is famous for inventing the printing press.
- Johann Fust/Faust – A printer who plays a big role in the 15th-century story. In the modern story, he is called Faust, and in the older story, he is called Fust.
- Peter Schoeffer – Fust's apprentice. He is the one who comes up with the plan for Endymion Spring to escape from Mainz.
- Christina – Fust's daughter and Peter's love interest.
- Endymion Spring – The main character of the 15th-century storyline. He is a young apprentice printer.
