The Trumpeter of Krakow facts for kids
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| Author | Eric P. Kelly |
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| Illustrator | Janina Domanska |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Published | 1928 (Macmillan Publishing Company) |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 236 |
| ISBN | 0-02-044150-9 |
| OCLC | 22683171 |
The Trumpeter of Krakow is an exciting historical novel for young people by Eric P. Kelly. It won the famous Newbery Medal in 1929 for being an excellent American children's book. The story takes place in Kraków, Poland, around 1462, when a big fire destroyed much of the city.
The book follows the fictional adventures of Joseph Charnetski and his family. They are a noble family from Poland, living in a region now part of Ukraine. In 1461, their home is burned down by fierce warriors called Cossack-Tatars. These warriors are led by Bogdan Grozny, also known as "Peter of the Button Face." He has a button-shaped mark on his cheek from smallpox.
Contents
Story Overview
Journey to Kraków
Andrew Charnetski, Joseph's father, sees a spy near their home in Ukraine. He quickly moves his family to a safe place. While they are away, Peter of the Button Face attacks their village. He is working for Ivan III of Russia, the king of Russia. Peter is searching for a mysterious object called the "Great Tarnov Crystal."
This crystal is very old and has caused many wars. Centuries ago, the city of Tarnów trusted the Charnetski family to protect it. They were told to give it to the King of Poland if it was ever found by others. Andrew realizes someone is after the crystal. Since their home is destroyed, he takes his family to Kraków. His cousin, Andrew Tenczynski, lives there. Andrew plans to give the crystal to King Kazimír Jagiełło.
But when they arrive, Andrew finds his cousin has been murdered. His cousin's home is now controlled by Elizabeth of Austria, the Queen of Poland. With no home or money, the Charnetski family camps in the city center.
Joseph, who is fifteen, explores Kraków. He passes the Church of Our Lady St. Mary. From its tower, a trumpeter plays an unfinished song called "the Heynal" (pronounced Hey-now). The song is played four times every hour, facing north, east, south, and west. Joseph then saves an alchemist named Nicholas Kreutz and his niece, Elżbietka, from a wolfdog. An alchemist was like an early scientist who tried to turn metals into gold. Kreutz offers Joseph and his family an apartment. It is on the Street of the Pigeons, a street near Kraków University where scientists often live.
Meanwhile, Peter of the Button Face has followed Andrew Charnetski and his wife to Kraków. Andrew, his wife, and Joseph are surrounded by Peter's bandits and a crowd. They are saved by Jan Kanty, a respected scholar and priest. Kanty offers Andrew a job as the night trumpeter at the Church of Our Lady St. Mary. Andrew is happy to have a job and a home so quickly, so he accepts.
That night, Andrew takes Joseph to the church tower. He explains the story of the trumpeter of Kraków. In 1241, a trumpeter was shot by a Tartar arrow before he could finish the Heynal. Because of this, the song is always cut short.
The Alchemist's Secret
Nicholas Kreutz teaches a German student named Johann Tring about chemistry. Tring is obsessed with finding the philosopher's stone. This was a legendary substance that people believed could turn ordinary metals into gold. Tring convinces Kreutz to try hypnosis. He thinks this will help Kreutz find the secret to making gold. But Kreutz's trances only suggest that the way to make gold is "at hand."
When not hypnotized, Kreutz believes that the philosopher's stone isn't a magic rock. He thinks it's a process to change bad things into good things. He wants to use alchemy to improve the world. He even thinks he could help Stas, the landlady's son, who has a physical difference.
Peter of the Button Face hears Stas talking about the Charnetskis. He pays Stas a lot of money to find out where they live. Peter and his men then break into the Charnetskis' apartment. Andrew is in the church tower. Peter finds the Tarnov Crystal hidden in Andrew's mattress.
Suddenly, Nicholas Kreutz appears. He is wearing clothes covered in glowing phosphorus and burning resin. The bandits think he is a demon and run away. The night watchmen catch them. But Peter stays to get the Crystal. When Kreutz asks why he is there, Peter realizes Kreutz is not a demon. He points to the Crystal, then trips Kreutz and grabs it. Peter escapes over the rooftops of Kraków.
Kreutz is tempted by the Crystal. He realizes it is the "chrysopoeia" (the way to make gold) that he and Tring have been looking for. Kreutz secretly takes the Tarnov Crystal. But when he tries to use it, he finds it only makes him think of his own wishes. He realizes the Crystal only shows what someone already knows deep inside. It won't reveal the secret of making gold unless he already knows all the steps.
The Unbroken Song
Andrew teaches Joseph the Heynal. He knows that people looking for the Crystal might attack him. Someone needs to be able to play the song every hour. One evening, Andrew and Joseph are in the tower. Peter and his men attack them and hold them captive. Peter demands to know where the Crystal is. Andrew and Joseph don't know.
Peter orders Joseph to play the Heynal because it's two o'clock. If the song isn't played, people will notice. Thinking fast, Joseph plays the entire Heynal, not stopping at the usual broken note. Elżbietka is awake in her apartment. She hears the finished song and knows it's a sign. She rushes to Jan Kanty's room. Kanty calls the night watchmen. They go to the church tower and surprise the bandits, freeing Andrew. Peter sees the watchmen and flees the city.
The Great Tarnov Crystal's Fate
Much later, Kreutz finally shows the Great Tarnov Crystal to Johann Tring. Tring is very excited. He tells Kreutz to stare into the crystal. Kreutz is tired from his many trances. But Tring makes him go into another trance by making him stare at the gemstone. Kreutz's thoughts arrange themselves. He "reads" in the stone what Tring thinks is the formula for turning brass into gold. But it is actually the formula for an explosive powder.
When Tring mixes the ingredients, the room explodes in flames. Tring runs for cover. Kreutz grabs the stone and, still confused, runs into the streets of Kraków. After that, Jan Kanty takes him to the tower. The Great Tarnov Crystal is given back to Andrew.
The fire spreads through the Street of the Pigeons. During the chaos, the king's guards catch Peter of the Button Face sneaking around. They take him to prison. Joseph, his mother, and Elżbietka escape their home and go to the church tower. Joseph takes his father's place as the trumpeter. Andrew helps put out the flames, which have spread across the city. By morning, the fire is out. Jan Kanty finds Nicholas Kreutz wandering in the rubble with the Tarnov Crystal.
Jan Kanty, Nicholas Kreutz, and Andrew and Joseph Charnetski all meet with King Kazimír. They give him the Tarnov Crystal and tell him their story. The king then calls for Peter of the Button Face. Peter tries to make a deal to save himself. He promises to tell the king why there have been problems in Ukraine. He says that Ivan III, the king of Russia, wanted Makhmud Khan to invade Ukraine for Russia. Makhmud agreed, but only if Ivan got him the Great Tarnov Crystal. That's why Ivan hired Bogdan Grozny, or Peter, to steal it.
After hearing Peter's story, King Kazimír banishes Peter from Poland forever. As they are leaving, the king stares at the Crystal and becomes completely focused on it. Kreutz, still in a trance, grabs the Crystal. He runs out the door to the banks of the Vistula River. He throws the Tarnov Crystal into the river. Jan Kanty and the king decide not to get the crystal back. They believe it is safe in the castle grounds. Andrew Charnetski's house in Ukraine is rebuilt, and the king rewards him. Kreutz and Elżbietka also come to Ukraine. The alchemist has regained his clear thinking. Six years later, Joseph marries Elżbietka.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon |
Newbery Medal recipient 1929 |
Succeeded by Hitty, Her First Hundred Years |
