The Taggerung
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| The Taggerung | |
 UK 1st Edition Cover |
|
| Author | Brian Jacques |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Peter Standley |
| Cover artist | Chris Baker |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Redwall |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Hutchinson (UK) & Philomel (US) |
| Publication date | 2001 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 384 (UK Hardback) & 438 (US Hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-09-176928-0 (UK Hardback) & ISBN 0-399-23720-8 (US Hardback) |
| Preceded by | Lord Brocktree |
| Followed by | Triss |
The Taggerung is a fantasy novel by Brian Jacques, published in 2001. It is the fourteenth book in the Redwall series. The title of the American edition was Taggerung, omitting the word The.
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
Sawney Rath, the leader of a vermin clan, believes Deyna, an otter born of the community at Redwall, is their Taggerung, a warrior destined to lead them to power and greatness. Little does Rath realize that when Deyna grows up, he will become the bane of vermin across all Mossflower Woods.
[edit] Plot summary
His birth was a long-awaited legend, full of mystery and promise, among the outlaw Juska tribes along the western shore. Denoted by a unique mark on his right paw, the Taggerung is a fearsome fighter (In the story, the word 'Taggerung' literally means a warrior of unbeatable strength, courage, and savageness), a warrior the likes of which has not been seen for many seasons.(Sawney Rath's father was the most recent.) When a seer from one tribe predicted his birth at Redwall Abbey, Sawney Rath, leader of the Juskarath, sets out to capture the Taggerung.
In Mossflower Woods, Rillflag the otter is completing a ritual ceremony with his new son, Deyna, when Sawney Rath and his tribe of vermin murder Rillflag and capture the legendary infant. Sawney renames the young otter Zann Juskarath Taggerung or "Tagg" for short, determined to raise him as his own son, and to bring the Taggerung under his control.
As Tagg begins to grow older, he finds himself at odds with his fellow tribe members. He refuses to become violent and soon finds himself as the only member of the tribe who has never killed for fun, or at all. When Sawney orders him to skin a runaway fox named Felch, Tagg refuses, enraging Sawney. Finding the roles reversed, Tagg flees and finds himself pursued by the ferret leader of the Juskarath.
Unfortunately for Rath, his chase is short-lived, as he is soon confronted and killed by the ambitious stoat Antigra, enabling her bumbling son Gruven Zann to take control of the newly renamed Juskazann tribe. The vixen Grissoul tells Gruven he must hunt down the former Taggerung and bring back his head. To aid him in his quest, Gruven recruits a small band of vermin to continue the hunt for the Taggerung, but Gruven's band of vermin would rather kill him than follow his orders, if only the opportunity presented itself.
In his travels, Tagg befriends a similarly mysterious (and, unlike Tagg, prone to telling lies) harvest mouse named Nimbalo the Slayer. Finding themselves in the company of a pygmy shrew colony, they rest until they are attacked by Gruven and his band of vermin. As Tagg prepares to defend his newfound companions, the vermin scatter, leaving only one unfortunate member behind. Under the harsh gaze of Tagg, and the threat of being drowned (he's afraid of water), the long-time member of Rath's old tribe reveals all, including the name of Tagg's true home: Redwall Abbey.
When Tagg arrives at Redwall, he's mistaken for the one of the members of the band of Juska supposed to be hunting him, knocked out, and locked up in the cellars. He's then released on impulse by the assistant cook Broggle when the Juska are threatening to kill Nimbalo, but then their plans go wrong. Tagg ends up with all but two Juskazann slain and an arrow in his chest. Then, Filorn, Tagg's mother, recognizes her son. Cregga Rose Eyes, an ancient, blind badger mum, appoints Deyna's sister, Mhera, as the new Abbess of Redwall, succeeding Abbess Songbreeze. Rukky Garge, a local otterfixer, manages to remove the distinguishing mark of the Taggerung from Deyna's paw, remove his tattoos, and remove the arrow.
Deyna's quest is not quite over, however, as the fox Ruggan Bor, now commanding the remnants of the Juskazann tribe as well as followers of his own, the Juskabor, shortly arrives to attack the stronghold of Redwall Abbey. Due to Gruven's bragging on his return, they now believe the Taggerung is dead and seek to confirm this rumor. As chance may have it, however, the badger ruler of Salamandastron, Russano the Wise, arrives in time to fend off Bor's attack, sending him and his vermin crew crawling on their bellies off into the sunset.
[edit] Characters in "Taggerung"
- Deyna, the Taggerung
- Sawney Rath
- Rillflag and Filorn
- Felch
- Antigra
- Gruven Zann
- Grissoul
- Nimbalo the Slayer
- Cregga Rose Eyes
- Mhera
- Vallug Bowbeast
- Ruggan Bor
- Russano the Wise
- Milkeye
- Eefera
- Boorab the Fool
- Broggle
- Fwirl
- Friar Bobb
- Gundil
- Sister Alkinet
- Brother Hoben
- Rukky Garge
[edit] Translations
- (French) Rougemuraille : Le Prodige
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Marlfox |
Redwall Series (chronological order) |
Succeeded by Triss |
| Preceded by Lord Brocktree |
Redwall Series (publication order) |
Succeeded by A Redwall Winter's Tale |
