The Crown of Dalemark
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| The Crown of Dalemark | |
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| Author | Diana Wynne Jones |
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| Country | Great Britain |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Dalemark Quartet |
| Genre(s) | Children's Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Harper Collins |
| Publication date | 1993 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Preceded by | The Spellcoats |
The Crown of Dalemark is a 1993 fantasy novel by Diana Wynne Jones. It is the fourth and last book of the Dalemark Quartet, and follows the adventures of a group of people trying to reunite Dalemark.
[edit] Plot summary
The book is divided into a number of sections, some set in present day Dalemark, and some in the time of Mitt and Moril. Mitt finds himself in a race to find an heir to the throne of Dalemark that has lane empty for over 200 hundred years, mixed up in the machinations of a number of powerful forces; Maewen, a girl from present day Dalemark, is visiting her father in the royal palace (now a museum), and is sent back in time to witness the restoration of the royal line by the mysterious Wend. She pretends to be Noreth Onesdaughter, a girl who claims the right to be the next Queen of Dalemark. She sets out with a small band of followers: Wend (Osfameron), Moril (from Cart and Cwidder), Mitt, Hestefan the Singer, and Navis Haddsson. When they finally reach the waystone where they will receive the crown, it is not Maewen who receives it, but Mitt. He renames himself Amil the Great, and Maewen goes back to the future. She realizes that Wend was working for Kankredin the whole time, and waits until he strikes. When Kankredin emerges, Mitt appears, and utters the Earth Shaker's powerful name, which takes care of Kankredin. Wend tells Maewen that she can find Mitt by talking to the witch Cennoreth (Tanaqui from The Spellcoats). And why would she want to do that, you might ask? Well, let's just say that she and Mitt were about the same age.
'Crown' is a particularly interesting addition to the Dalemark series, as many of the characters from previous books are seen from quite different perspectives, not necessarily favourable. Hildrida, Navis, Keril and Osfameron are particularly notable for the negative sides of their personalities that are brought out in the book. The complex, multi-dimensional characters in Crown are possibly among the best in DWJ's work.
[edit] Editions
- Greenwillow Books, 1995 (ISBN 0-688-13363-0)
- HarperTrophy paperback, 2001 (ISBN 0-06-447316-3)
[edit] Sequel speculation
Diana's sister has asked her to write a sequel to 'Crown', but the author insists she won't be able to until she has worked out what becomes of Tanaqui ('The Spellcoats') after the the One has reshaped the land.
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