The Bellmaker facts for kids
UK first edition cover
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| Author | Brian Jacques |
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| Illustrator | Allan Curless |
| Cover artist | Chris Baker |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Redwall |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Hutchinson (UK) and Philomel (US) |
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Publication date
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1994 |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 352 (UK hardback); 336 (US hardback) |
| ISBN | 0-09-176622-2 (UK hardback); ISBN: 0-399-22805-5 (US hardback) |
| OCLC | 59815552 |
| Preceded by | Martin the Warrior |
| Followed by | Outcast of Redwall |
The Bellmaker is an exciting fantasy novel by Brian Jacques, first published in 1994. It is the seventh book in the popular Redwall series, which tells tales of brave animals living in a peaceful abbey.
Contents
The Adventure Begins
Far to the north, a dangerous villain named Urgan Nagru, the Foxwolf, arrives in a place called Southsward. He brings his wife, Silvamord, and many rat soldiers. They attack Castle Floret. Silvamord tricks the castle guards by pretending to be weak. This allows them to capture Gael Squirrelking, his wife Serena, their baby son Truffen, and a badger nursemaid named Muta.
Meanwhile, two heroes from Redwall Abbey, Mariel Gullwhacker and Dandin, are lost in the southern deserts. They meet a friendly hedgehog named Bowly Pintips. Together, they try to save a mole from Nagru's rat soldiers. Just when things look bad, Field Marshal Meldrum Fallowthorn the Magnificent, a brave hare, arrives with his young nephews to help them.
Back at Castle Floret, Gael's otter friends, led by Rab Streambattle, plan a rescue. They manage to save Serena and Truffen. But Gael and Muta get into trouble. Muta and Rab bravely fight many rats, but they are overwhelmed and thought to be dead.
Mariel, Dandin, and Meldrum fight off two of Nagru's fierce ermine trackers. This allows Serena and Truffen to escape. However, Mariel and her friends are captured by Nagru's rats and taken back to Castle Floret.
A Vision and a Journey
At Redwall Abbey, Joseph the Bellmaker, who is Mariel's father, has a special vision. He is inspired by Martin the Warrior, a legendary hero of Redwall. Joseph decides to gather a team to help. His team includes Hon Rosie, a brave hare; Durry Quill, a hedgehog; Rufe Brush, a squirrel; and the Foremole, leader of the moles. They are joined by Log-a-Log and a group of Guosim shrews.
They travel to the coast. Joseph wants to find the place from his vision. There, they meet Finnbarr Galedeep, a wild sea otter. Finnbarr helps them trick two searat brothers, Slipp and Strapp. They manage to steal a great ship called the Pearl Queen. Strapp chases them on his ship, the Shalloo, but his ship sinks in a giant whirlpool called the 'Green Maelstrom'.
While Joseph and his friends sail towards Castle Floret, Slipp and his kind first mate, Blaggut, head into Mossflower Woods.
Escapes and Returns
Mariel, Dandin, and Meldrum wake up in the dungeons of Castle Floret, along with Gael Squirrelking. With some luck and help from a shrike bird named Glokkpod, they escape. But Mariel gets separated from her friends. She meets Egbert the Scholar, an old mole who lives under the castle. Egbert found Rab and Muta and helped them get better. Rab and Muta are very strong warriors, but they are quiet after their terrible battle. With their help, Mariel gets back inside the castle and lowers the drawbridge.
Meanwhile, Slipp and Blaggut arrive at Redwall Abbey. They find refuge there. Slipp tries to find treasure with some young Dibbuns (baby animals), but he fails. Angry, he attacks and kills Mother Mellus, a badger. He escapes the Abbey with Blaggut and a special cup. When Blaggut learns the truth about Slipp's actions, he kills Slipp. Blaggut then returns to the Abbey with the cup, asking for forgiveness. He eventually receives it.
The Final Battle
On the Pearl Queen, Joseph and his crew face many dangers. They survive whirlpools, sharks, and crazy toads on shipwrecked islands. Hon Rosie is thought to be lost but later reappears. They also find three young orphans: Benjy the squirrel, Wincey the mousemaid, and Figgs the ottermaid. They finally reach Southsward. With help from other animal clans, they arrive at Castle Floret, ready for a big battle.
A huge battle begins! Mariel, Dandin, Meldrum, the otters, Finnbarr, Joseph, and their friends fight Nagru's army of grey rats. Many rats are defeated. However, Fatch, a shrew and good friend of Rufe and Durry, is killed by Silvamord, Urgan Nagru's wife. Rab Streambattle, who has reunited with his wife Iris and is now well again, kills Silvamord in the moat. She is a strong fighter but cannot swim. In the last fight, Finnbarr Galedeep battles Urgan Nagru. Finnbarr kills Nagru by smashing his wolf skull into his head. Sadly, Finnbarr dies from his own wounds.
With Urgan Nagru defeated and his army gone, peace returns to Castle Floret and Southsward. Gael is once again the Squirrelking, with his family and Muta. The other Redwallers go back to the Abbey. Joseph stays in Southsward to help rebuild. Mariel, Dandin, and Bowly, still full of adventure, set off to explore new places.
Meet the Characters
- Joseph the Bellmaker
- Abbot Saxtus
- Slipp
- Urgan Nagru, the Foxwolf
- Mariel Gullwhacker
- Dandin
- Finnbarr Galedeep
- Silvamord
- Meldrum the Magnificent
- Gael Squirrelking
- Rab & Iris Streambattle
- Mother Mellus
- Blaggut
- Bowly Pintips
How the Book is Organized
- Book 1: The Dream
- Book 2: The Pearl Queen
- Book 3: Southsward
Around the World
- (Finnish) Kellonvalaja
- (French) Rougemuraille : Joseph le Fondeur
- Tome 1 : La Menace d'Ourgan le Garou
- Tome 2 : La Reine-de-Nacre
- Tome 3 : Les Évadés de Méridion
- Tome 4 : La Reconquête
- (German) In den Fängen des Tyrannen
- (Italian) Giuseppe di Redwall
- (Swedish) Josef, klockmakaren
- (Russian) Колокол Джозефа
Images for kids
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US cover of The Bellmaker
