The Load of Unicorn facts for kids
Front cover of first edition
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| Author | Cynthia Harnett |
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| Illustrator | Cynthia Harnett |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's historical novel |
| Publisher | Methuen & Co. |
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Publication date
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1959 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover & paperback) |
| Pages | 239 pp (first edition) |
| OCLC | 752626144 |
| LC Class | PZ7.H228 Lo PZ7.H228 Cax |
The Load of Unicorn is an exciting historical novel for young readers, written and illustrated by Cynthia Harnett. It first came out in 1959. The story takes place in London during the 1400s. It follows the adventures of a young apprentice who works for William Caxton, England's first printer. The book's title, The Load of Unicorn, refers to a special shipment of paper. This paper had a unicorn watermark and was ordered by Caxton but never arrived.
The book was also published in the U.S. in 1960. There, it was called Caxton's Challenge. Another name for the book was The Cargo of the Madalena.
The Load of Unicorn was a runner-up for the Carnegie Medal. This award is given by the Library Association. It celebrates the best children's book written by a British subject each year.
Discovering the Story: A Printer's Apprentice Adventure
The main character is a boy named Benedict, but everyone calls him Bendy. His father is a forward-thinking man. He arranged for Bendy to become an apprentice to William Caxton. Caxton was famous for bringing the printing press to England.
Family Trouble and Hidden Secrets
Bendy's half-brothers are not happy about his new job. They are scriveners, meaning they copy books by hand. They worry that the new printing press will take away their work. What's worse, they have secretly stopped a delivery of new paper meant for Caxton. They are hiding it away. Bendy knows about this secret. He is very worried about what might happen if he tells. He also fears his half-brothers might be involved with rebels. These rebels supported the Lancastrian side in the Wars of the Roses, a big fight for the English throne.
A Dangerous Quest for an Ancient Tale
Caxton gives Bendy and another apprentice an important mission. They must find the complete handwritten story of Thomas Mallory's tales of King Arthur. Mallory's stories were already known. However, they were usually found as separate tales. Caxton believed there was one full manuscript. He thought this because some tales mentioned events from earlier parts of the story. Bendy's search for this manuscript becomes very dangerous. Other people are also trying to find it.
