The Magicians of Caprona facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Diana Wynne Jones |
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| Cover artist | Ionicus |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Chrestomanci |
| Genre | Children's fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Macmillan |
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Publication date
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1980 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 223 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0-333-27891-8 |
| Preceded by | Charmed Life |
| Followed by | Witch Week |
The Magicians of Caprona is an exciting fantasy novel for kids. It was written by the British author Diana Wynne Jones and came out in 1980. This book is the second one in her popular series called the Chrestomanci books.
The story takes place in a special Italian city called Caprona. Caprona is a "city-state," which means it's like a small country all by itself. It's famous for two powerful magic families: Casa Montana and Casa Petrocchi.
The Chrestomanci books are named after a very strong enchanter. This enchanter works for the British government in a world much like ours. His job is to make sure magic is used properly. In The Magicians of Caprona, the Chrestomanci is Christopher Chant. He's a main character in many of these magical stories.
Contents
Saving Caprona: A Magical Quest
The city of Caprona is in a world similar to ours, but Italy never became one big country. Instead, it has many city-states. Caprona is losing its magic and power. Other nearby states like Florence and Pisa want to take over.
To save Caprona, someone must find the true words to a special song. This song is called the Angel of Caprona. It's not just a song; it's also a very powerful spell. If read aloud, it can protect the city.
Two Rival Magic Families
The story is mostly seen through the eyes of two brothers, Tonino and Paolo Montana. They belong to Casa Montana, one of the two main magic families in Caprona. The other family is Casa Petrocchi.
These two families have been fighting for many, many years. Each family blames the other for Caprona's problems. They refuse to work together, which makes saving the city even harder.
Meeting the Duchess
Tonino Montana is a secret, powerful enchanter, but he doesn't know it yet! He loves to read books more than practice magic. His brother Paolo is more outgoing and does well in school.
One day, both brothers are called to the Duke of Caprona's palace. There, they meet members of the rival Petrocchi family for the first time. They also meet the Duchess, who seems to be the real ruler of Caprona. She is a very strong and important person.
Main Characters in the Story
Here are some of the important people you'll meet in The Magicians of Caprona:
- Antonio "Tonino" Montana: A young boy from Casa Montana. He secretly has strong magic powers, but he loves reading more than spells.
- Paolo Montana: Tonino's older brother. He is friendly and good at school.
- Angelica Petrocchi: A girl from the rival Casa Petrocchi family.
- Renata Petrocchi: Angelica's sister.
- Christopher Chant: Also known as the Chrestomanci. He is a very powerful enchanter who helps control magic in his world. He appears as a young boy in The Lives of Christopher Chant.
- The Duke: The official ruler of Caprona.
- The Duchess: The Duke's wife, who seems to hold the real power in Caprona.
Fun Facts and Connections
The big family feud between Casa Montana and Casa Petrocchi might remind you of another famous story. It's like the fight between the Montagues and Capulets in Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet. Both stories show how old family rivalries can cause big problems.
There's also a funny moment where the Duke of Caprona mentions the Roman Emperor Nero. Legend says Nero played music while Rome burned. The Duke makes a similar joke while Caprona is in trouble, saying, "there's nothing like a good song while Caprona burns!"
