The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

Source of book: Audiobook from the library

 

Way back in 2017, during our trip to see the eclipse, we listened to the first book in this series, The Book of Three. After that, we never did get to the others, because the second book was completely unavailable in our local library system - like other books that became Disney adaptations, it was stolen and not replaced. 

 

More recently, however, I got a library card for the Los Angeles County system, as well as a new truck which was able to play nicely with the Libby app. Because the younger kids didn’t remember the first book (and the older kids are off at college and no longer traveling with us regularly), I decided to go back and listen to the first one again, followed directly by the second. 

 

You can read my thoughts on the first book here.

Having met the main characters in the previous book, it was nice to have them back. Taran, of course, as the hero of the story, but also Eilonwy the sarcastic and badass princess, Fflam the goofy king turned bard, Doli the grumpy dwarf, and the half-human Gurgi. There are also appearances by Gwydion and Dallben, mentors to Taran. 

 

Another character becomes important in this story, as a sort of antagonist and counterpart to Taran: Prince Ellidyr, a youngest son trying to prove his worth, and making an obnoxious ass of himself in the process. 

 

The macguffin this time is the titular Black Cauldron, a magical pot that can be used to create undead warriors - the “Cauldron Born.” Possessed by the arch-villain Arawn (who is essentially the lord of the underworld), the cauldron is wreaking havoc on the kingdom of Prydain. So, Gwydion and the other chieftains decide to attempt a theft of the pot. Taran, Doli, Fflam and Ellidyr go with them, joined on the sly by Eilonwy and Gurgi. 

 

So far, so good, but things go awry when it turns out that the cauldron has gone missing - and Arawn is furious. From there, there is a narrow escape using the assistance of the Fair Folk, tracking through a swamp, a bargain with primordial witches, a betrayal, and a noble sacrifice. 

 

I won’t give away the plot beyond that. 

 

To a degree, I felt that this book assumed you knew the characters, and thus didn’t spend as much time on the characterization. Instead, the book as a more detailed plot, and more about the maturation process for Taran. It is, after all, his story. We still do not know his parentage, but it is becoming clear that he is growing into the role of a leader. He still has a long way to go, but he is definitely not the naive assistant pig-keeper he was in the first book. 

 

I thought that Alexander did a good job, given the constraints of shorter works of fiction for children, at exploring the moral complexities at play. Is it ever okay to seek power? Or is an object of power in itself corrupting to one’s morality? How are flawed people influenced by their circumstances - such as the case of Ellidyr? When is it appropriate to stand up for one’s self, and when is it necessary to accept an insult for the greater good? 

 

The plot itself requires the question of the “scapegoat” - the innocent person who takes on the sin of a community. How innocent is enough? How flawed can you be before you cannot take on that role? Never answered is exactly why we see a need for scapegoats in the first place. 

 

And, perhaps the most crucial to Taran himself, can he give up a source of magical insight that has brought him respect, and rely instead on his own judgment? Does he have the self-confidence to do that? 

 

Again, understanding that this is a book for children, not a psychological novel for adults with the patience to read long books, Alexander brings a lot of nuance. He isn’t Henry James, and the books aren’t as long or quite as good as, say, Terry Pratchett, but these are well written and thoughtful books. 

 

I think this one in particular was an excellent look at what true leadership looks like - taking care of those in one’s squad, not ordering people around. 

 

With the LA County Library system available now, I believe I can get all five books on audiobook, so we may be returning to them a lot sooner than last time.