The Grey King facts for kids
Front cover of the first UK edition
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| Author | Susan Cooper |
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| Cover artist | Michael Heslop (UK, US) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Dark is Rising |
| Genre | Children's fantasy and horror novel |
| Publisher | Chatto & Windus (UK) Atheneum (US) |
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Publication date
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October 1975 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 208 pp |
| ISBN | 0-7011-5071-8 |
| OCLC | 1974496 |
| LC Class | PZ7.C7878 Gt3 |
| Preceded by | Greenwitch |
| Followed by | Silver on the Tree |
The Grey King is an exciting fantasy novel written by Susan Cooper. It was first published in 1975. This book is the fourth of five stories in her popular series, The Dark is Rising. The series is inspired by old King Arthur legends.
The Grey King won two special awards. It received the first-ever Tir na n-Og Award from the Welsh Books Council. This award celebrates the best English-language children's book with a real Welsh background. The story takes place in Wales and uses many ideas from Welsh folklore and Arthurian myths. It also won the important Newbery Medal. This award recognizes the "most distinguished contribution to American children's literature" each year.
Contents
Meet the Characters
Will Stanton: The Young Hero
- Will Stanton is one of the main characters in the Dark is Rising series. In this book, Will is getting better after being sick with hepatitis. His doctor told him to stay home from school for at least a month. So, his mom sends him to stay with his uncle, David Evans, in Wales. This is where his new adventures begin!
Bran Davies: The Raven Boy
- Bran Davies is often called the "raven boy." He has albino features, meaning he has very pale skin and hair, and unusual golden eyes. Bran is about the same age as Will. He is a bit of a loner and doesn't have many friends at school. He also isn't allowed to be out after school. Bran has a white dog named Cafall. This dog is special because he can actually see the wind! (Did you know that Cafall was also the name of King Arthur's dog in legends?)
- The name Bran means 'crow' in the Welsh language. Some people think he might be named after King Bran Fendigaid, also known as "Bran the Blessed." This was an old Celtic god from Welsh and Irish mythology. He was later seen as a king of North Wales.
Owen Davies: Bran's Protector
- Owen Davies is Bran's adoptive father. Years ago, a mother and her baby appeared at his farm. Owen took care of them and even planned to marry the mother. But the next day, she was gone, leaving the baby with him. Owen loves Bran very much and is very protective of him. He doesn't want to lose Bran.
The Brenin Llwyd: The Grey King
- The Brenin Llwyd, or the Grey King, is the main bad guy in this story. He is a powerful lord of the Dark, maybe even the oldest one. However, he has rules he must follow. He cannot break the laws of something called The High Magic. He might even be forced to stay at his home, Cader Idris.
- People in the mountains near his home are scared of "The Breath of the Grey King." This is a thick fog that appears very quickly. It can make travelers get lost and fall off cliffs or steep slopes, leading to danger.
Milgwn: The Grey Foxes
- Milgwn are huge grey foxes that the Grey King controls. People say they can move through his fog without being seen and leave no tracks. They are not from our world, even though they walk on it. They are known to attack when normal foxes wouldn't. Most people cannot see the Milgwn. But Bran can see them because he is special. Will can also see them because he is an Old One (or "Dewin" in Welsh).
- Milgwn (the singular is milgi) means 'greyhounds' in Welsh.
Caradog Prichard: The Manipulated Man
- Caradog Prichard is a bitter and unhappy man. The Grey King is able to control him, but Caradog doesn't really want to help the Dark. There's a legend that says if someone spends a night on Cader Idris mountain, they will either become a poet or go mad. Caradog hoped to become a poet and spent the night there. He didn't become a poet and often acts like he's not quite right in the head.
- He might be named after a real Welsh poet, Caradog Prichard.
Story Setting: Wales
The places described in The Grey King are very similar to real places in and around the Dysynni Valley in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. The book mentions actual locations like the town of Tywyn, the mountain Cader Idris, and a famous rock called Bird Rock (Craig yr Aderyn).
