Westmark (novel)
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| Westmark | |
 1997 paperback edition cover |
|
| Author | Lloyd Alexander |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Westmark trilogy |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | E. P. Dutton |
| Publication date | April 1981 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 184 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-525-42335-4 (first edition, hardback) |
| Followed by | 'The Kestrel' |
Westmark is a fantasy novel by Lloyd Alexander that received an American Book Award. It is the first book of the Westmark trilogy, followed by The Kestrel and The Beggar Queen. Showing influences from the French existentialist writers whose works Alexander translated early in his career, the series is far darker and more adult than Alexander's previous works such as The Chronicles of Prydain.
Set in the fictional kingdom of Westmark in a time period approximately equivalent to the 18th century, it tells a story of political upheaval and revolution strikingly similar to the history of the French Revolution, as seen through the eyes of a young printer's apprentice who goes on the run after his master is murdered. Westmark leads directly into the second volume of the trilogy, The Kestrel.
[edit] Plot summary
It is a complicated and politically dangerous period in Westmark. The country's ruler, King Augustine IV, has slipped into dementia, depression and illness since the supposed death of his only child, the Princess Augusta, over six years ago. Despite the efforts of the Queen, Caroline, and the court physician, Dr. Torrens, the King is increasingly manipulated by his chief minister Cabbarus, who has designs on the throne. While the ill king is kept distracted by a series of mystics and charlatans who claim to be able to speak to his dead child, Cabbarus increases his control over Westmark, restricting freedoms and abusing the king's powers.
Young Theo, an orphan, has been raised by a small town printer named Anton. After the pair accepts a job from a travelling salesman they are investigated by Cabbarus' men, who declare their job illegal and proceed to destroy their press. In the ensuing scuffle and chase, Theo attacks a soldier and Anton is shot and killed.
With no one else to turn to, Theo takes to the countryside, eventually meeting up with the men who hired him and Anton for the printing job: Count Las Bombas, a con artist, and his dwarf driver/partner Musket. Theo joins up with them, rather reluctantly, and ends up participating in their money-making schemes. They eventually discover a girl named Mickle, a poor street urchin, who has a talent for throwing her voice and mimickery. The Count builds a charade around Mickle, dressing her up as the Oracle Priestess and putting her on display, claiming that she can speak to the spirits of the dead.
Theo, despite his growing affection for the bright but vulnerable Mickle, begins to find this too dishonest for his tastes and abandons the group, eventually falling in with Florian, an anti-monarchist and rebel who plans revolution with his band of loyal followers. Meanwhile, Mickle, Las Bombas and Musket have been arrested for fraud, Cabbarus has attempted to have Dr. Torrens assassinated and a politically minded journalist goes into hiding to save himself from Cabbarus' wrath.
Events come to a head when Theo plots to break his old companions out of prison, with help from Florian and his allies. Their reunion, however, does not last long; Cabbarus has tracked them down and has them all arrested. He brings the group to the Juliana, the King and Queen's palace in the capital city, and suddenly Mickle's long-repressed childhood memories come to the surface, revealing treason, attempted murder and corruption in the heart of the Westmark government.
[edit] Characters in Westmark
- Augustine IV – King of Westmark
- Caroline – Queen of Westmark
- Augusta – Princess
- Theo – young printer's apprentice, orphan and protagonist
- Cabbarus – manipulative chief minister to the King
- Mickle – poor street urchin
- Florian – an anti-monarchist and rebel
- Las Bombas – Count and conman
- Dr. Torrens – court physician
- Musket – dwarf driver, partner to Las Bombas
