The Firework-Maker's Daughter
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| The Firework-Maker's Daughter | |
| Author | Philip Pullman |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Nick Harris |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Genre(s) | Children's |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Publication date | 1995-11-02 |
| Pages | 112 |
| ISBN | ISBN 0385405278 |
The Firework-Maker's Daughter is a short children's novel by Philip Pullman. It was first published in the United Kingdom by Doubleday in 1995. The UK edition was illustrated by Nick Harris, while the United States edition was illustrated by S. Saelig Gallagher.[1] Pullman originally wrote the story as a school play. The novel was in turn adapted into a play.[2] Called a "fairy tale" by Pullman, the novel is a children's adventure story where the main character undertakes a quest to prove herself, and a metaphor for making art.[3][4]
[edit] Plot summary
The novel's main character is a young girl called Lila. She wants to become a firework-maker, like her father Lalchand. However her father does not think that this is a suitable thing for a girl to do, and he urges her to concentrate on getting married. Lila disagrees, and journeys to get Royal Sulphur from Razvani the Fire-Fiend at Mount Merapi, as all aspirant firework-makers must do. She does not know that she needs protection from the Fire-Fiend's flames. When her friends Chulak, a boy her age, and Hamlet, a talking animal, find out, they get magic water from the Water Goddess at Emerald Lake to bring to her for her protection. She also does not know that she needs to bring Three Gifts. Having nothing with her to present to Razvani, she thinks that she does not have the gifts. But her father tells her that the Three Gifts are talent, courage, and luck, all of which she has. She has talent, having worked with her father at firework-making for many years. Courage caused her to make the journey, and her friends Chulak and Hamlet, the talking elephant, were her good fortune to have. She encounters pirates, wild animals, and takes part in a fireworks contest on her long journey.
[edit] References
- ^ The Firework-Maker's Daughter, philippullman.com.
- ^ Gardner, Lyn, 2003-03-19, The Firework Maker's Daughter, The Guardian.
- ^ Johanson, K.V., The nineties: Rushdie, Pullman, Pratchett, Louise Cooper, and Tanith Lee, Resource Links.
- ^ Patterson, Christina, 2004-11-12, Philip Pullman: Material worlds, The Independent.
