Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “The Letter for the King” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

The Letter for the King

(De brief voor de koning #1)

Tonke Dragt,

Laura Watkinson (Translator)

4.16 · Rating details · 8,861 ratings · 691 reviews

A young messenger. A secret mission. A kingdom in peril.

It is the dead of night.

Sixteen-year-old Tiuri must spend hours locked in a chapel in silent contemplation if he is to be knighted the next day.

But, as he waits by the light of a flickering candle, he hears a knock at the door and a voice desperately asking for help.

A secret letter must be delivered to King Unauwen ac ...more

Get A Copy

Kindle Edition, 460 pages

Published November 7th 2013 by Pushkin Press (first published 1962)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Letter for the King, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Spectre of Alexander Wolf by Gaito Gazdanov

The Queen of Spades and Selected Works by Alexander Pushkin

Life of a Counterfeiter by Yasushi Inoue

Pushkin Press

86 books — 11 voters

Circus of Thieves and the Raffle of Doom by William Sutcliffe

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

UKLA Longlist 2015

45 books — 5 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.16 ·

Rating details

· 8,861 ratings · 691 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of The Letter for the King

Mar 04, 2016 jv poore rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: survival-stories, middle-grade, mystery, own-it-arc, legends-myths-fables, buried-under-books

Upon discovering a character I admire and adore, I often aspire to become that character. Emulate a new role model, envision greater goals and dream of different worlds to conquer. In this case, though, I would never set myself up for that fall. Merely a human being, a perfectly plausible person; Tiuri is genuinely good. And kind. I believe that Tiuri is truly and actually, altruistic.

His epic journey to deliver a message of monumental importance took place many years ago. A mission that today c Upon discovering a character I admire and adore, I often aspire to become that character. Emulate a new role model, envision greater goals and dream of different worlds to conquer. In this case, though, I would never set myself up for that fall. Merely a human being, a perfectly plausible person; Tiuri is genuinely good. And kind. I believe that Tiuri is truly and actually, altruistic.

His epic journey to deliver a message of monumental importance took place many years ago. A mission that today could be as simple as “send”, was an adventure only for the courageous and strong then. Traveling alone, on horseback at best; stumbling through the forest by sheer will, hiding from the knights who considered him a murderer and a thief, at worst.

Tiuri is brave. No. Make that, bold—often foolishly so. Although, to be fair, no fault can ever be found. If ever there was a quintessential example of will power (aside from Frog & Toad “Cookies”, that is), Tiuri conveys it. Wise beyond his years he is also, oddly, naïve. A sincere listener, Tiuri ponders then proceeds. Complexly concurrent, he has an uncanny ability to act instinctively.

But I’ve buried the lead.

Tiuri should not even be embarking on this endeavor. Moments before he fled his kingdom, fleet on a stolen horse, with the furious owner following; Tiuri had been locked inside a silent chapel, reflecting upon the duties he would perform as knight to his beloved king; beginning at sunrise.

Tiuri’s abrupt departure meant sacrificing what he had worked towards his whole life (all sixteen years of it). His decision seems reckless and a bit ridiculous. But things aren’t always as they seem, and this cunning theme cuts through narrative cleverly guiding Tiuri as he encounters a plethora of peculiar people during his travels.

The Letter for the King reads like an instant classic. While the fiction is fresh, the feel is familiar. Mystery and intrigue magnificently merge with action and adventure, appealing to all senses. The colorful characters encountered keep loneliness at bay and Tiuri on his toes. 11-year-old-me would have read this book over and over and over.

This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore. ...more

flag 49 likes · Like · see review

Apr 04, 2019 Sara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, fantasy, arc

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a story that manages to capture the spirit and emotions of an epic adventure, but The Letter For the King manages to do just that. It’s full of secrets, missions from strangers, and the feeling that you can accomplish anything, be anything, that you want to.

Tiuri is about to become a knight when he’s given a task by a stranger. He must deliver a letter to the king. And on his way to do this, he ...more

flag 30 likes · Like · see review

May 24, 2008 Annet rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: have-to-read-again, dutch

Great childrens book, read it several times. Tonke Dragt's books are also read by many adults. Wonderful writer!! ...more

flag 30 likes · Like · see review

Feb 08, 2013 Kezia Olive rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, children-books

Oh, give me a sec to let my tears drop.

This book is beautiful. The story inside feels so real. It feels different. It almost feels like Tiuri, the main character here, sits across the room telling me the story himself, and help me learnt so much.
I won't forget this book, that is for sure.
I am glad I found this book in my school library a few days ago. This is beyond my imagination.
I had no expectation when I first saw this book. I thought to myself that maybe this is another freakish classic ta Oh, give me a sec to let my tears drop.

This book is beautiful. The story inside feels so real. It feels different. It almost feels like Tiuri, the main character here, sits across the room telling me the story himself, and help me learnt so much.
I won't forget this book, that is for sure.
I am glad I found this book in my school library a few days ago. This is beyond my imagination.
I had no expectation when I first saw this book. I thought to myself that maybe this is another freakish classic tale, written with so much art and deep thoughts and evil mixed in. But what I found is surprising.

After a few pages I realized how this book feels so pure and unreal but real at the same time. How this book did nothing but touching its readers and send them great values of life that they learn by themself.

It is a book for kids.. but it is an awesome book. Oh let me cry for a little bit more, for this book is beautiful.
I ridiculously love it, I learnt so much from it, gosh I just adore it.

It doesn't feel old or boring. It's awesome.
The characters are all males most of the time, guys that shared the same age with me right now.

The story is about a journey of Tiuri, a young man that ran away on the night before he could be the king's knight, for a secret mission given by strangers. On his journey he met a lot of people, become friends with so many people, and face so much danger. The story tells about how he discovered a lot of things about life, about himself, about the world.

Some sentences here punch in a huge impression in my heart, like the time when Tiuri finished his mission and a wise clown from the neighbour country told him a story of a guy who went on a journey to chase the end of the rainbow, for he believed that the end of the rainbow would be the most beautiful place on earth. However l, after the long trip he found nothing. He was disappointed, but then he thought about the journey he had, how he met so many awesome new friends, beautiful sights,and a lot of happiness, he realized that the rainbow is not the most important thing! Thee beauty and values he found in his journey, that is the most important.

This book is crazily awesome, I hope my son or daughter will read it one day and feel the same thing.
This book gave me a lot. One of the most inspiring book ever. :) I also hope you'll consider reading it too, even thou the cover of it might not look that interesting, haha. Happy reading, and God bless your journey :") ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Nov 27, 2018 Justine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bolen-books-kids-bookclub, 2018-read, read-with-my-kids

3.5 stars from me
4.75 stars from my son

I read this with my 10 year old son for the kids bookclub he belongs to through one of our local independent bookstores. It wasn't one I had previously heard of, although it is a Dutch classic, where it was originally published in 1962.

This is quaintly written old fashioned chivalric fantasy which would provide a nice entry to the genre for middle grade and young adult audiences. It's an older book, and reads that way, but it nevertheless has a simple appea ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Mar 27, 2020 Amanda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A very solid classic linear fantasy, without any supernatural elements. You know who to trust and who not, the secrets are easily guessable, and the end is satisfying. The perfect escapist read for a difficult time.

flag 13 likes · Like · see review

Jul 09, 2015 Ken rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: finished-in-2015, ya

As YA goes, this is a 5-star plot. It was written in 1962, apparently, and the new translation is coming on 25 August of 2015.

It's the story of a squire on the eve of becoming a knight who does NOT become a knight because he makes the fateful decision to answer a call for help. One thing leads to another, and before long, this kid is on a quest with unseen enemies all around him (but with unexpected friends as well).

It's sweet, actually. So old school it will remind you of the type of book about ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Jan 30, 2016 Hannah rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: mg, fantasy, ya, around-the-world-in-80-books

This is a prime example of a book that needs an introduction. The original Dutch edition of The Letter for the King was published in 1962 by an Indonesian survivor of WWII Japanese internment camps and is considered to be a European children's classic. 50 years later, it was finally translated into English.

So how does it hold up? Poorly, when you consider how the English edition was marketed.

I found it on a YA shelf with a shiny cover promising the epic adventures of a 16-year old squire. Sound ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Aug 31, 2018 The Captain rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this young adult fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

I always be interested in fairy tales from other lands. This translation caught me eye because the author was born in Indonesia, imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp in WWII, and then moved to the Netherlands. She published this book in 1962 and it won the Children's Book of the Year Award and was subsequently translated into sixteen languages. ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Jul 09, 2020 Sabrina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read

I had the urge to read this book after I finished the Netflix series and god was I surprised.
They have NOTHING in common except that there's a boy named Tiuri whose mission is to deliver a letter.
Well, I actually enjoyed the book a lot more because it didn't have the annoying female characters and the magic elements.
Romance makes everything complicated and cringy and reading about Tiuri's and Piak's strong friendship was much more entertaining! :) ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Aug 08, 2011 Anita rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: childhood, fantasy, dutch

My father has always faintly disliked reading. Too bad he got me as a daughter! Out of the countless of books that he read to me when I was small, this book and its sequel are by far the most memorable. It fed my imagination to no ends, spawning both great visions and one of the most terrifying nightmares I remember. Since back then, much has changed. My knowledge of the Dutch language might have become crippled, and my eyes feast on the pages of other fantasy masterpieces, but Tonke Dragt and t ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 11, 2015 Mathew rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: being-yourself, fantasy, identity, key-stage-2, childrens-literature, disguised-identity, kindness, coming-of-age, family, friendship

First released 50 odd years ago in the Netherlands, this is a wonderful story of knights and adventures written by Tonke Dragt: why it took so long to be spotted over here (it's sold over a million copies) and be translated is beyond me.
From the outset, when Tiuri is tempted from his night's vigil out of the chapel by a call for help, I was hooked. There was something about Tiuri, the use of limited third person (wonderfully translated by Laura Watkinson) and the style of narrative that reminde ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2017 Anne (ReadEatGameRepeat) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, dutch-literature, books-to-annotate

5/4/2020 still loved it just as much upon reread
-----------------------------------
4/10/2017 5 Stars - a long time favorite (Sorry I'm writing this in English, my written dutch just isn't good enough to express my thoughts -but I guess that is part of the reason why I tried to read this book - to improve my language skills) Well - I was finally able to finish this book (I just decided to read the rest in one chunk), it took much longer than I thought it would, which was mildly discouraging to my ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

May 21, 2018 Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore added it · review of another edition

Shelves: english-translation, children-s-literature, young-adult, adventure, tonke-dragt, knights

I first heard about The Letter for the King when I happened to watch bits of the film version (Dutch with subtitles) on TV some time ago, and when I noticed the book on NetGalley, of course I couldn’t resist putting in a request. My thanks to Pushkin Children’s Books and NetGalley for a review copy of this title. This was written by Dragt in 1962 and the translation I read is by Laura Wilkinson, published by Pushkin Children’s Books which according to the blurb at the back of the book brings out I first heard about The Letter for the King when I happened to watch bits of the film version (Dutch with subtitles) on TV some time ago, and when I noticed the book on NetGalley, of course I couldn’t resist putting in a request. My thanks to Pushkin Children’s Books and NetGalley for a review copy of this title. This was written by Dragt in 1962 and the translation I read is by Laura Wilkinson, published by Pushkin Children’s Books which according to the blurb at the back of the book brings out children’s books old and new, from different languages and cultures.

This was a lot like the book I last read (Band of Soldiers―teen heroes in times past, thrown into adventure and danger) but still a very different story, and of course in a very different place. Of course, this was part of my theme reads this month, the Kings here being the fictional kings of Dragonaut and Unawen. Sixteen-year-old Tiuri with five other, slightly ‘older’ young men are about to be knighted by their King, the King of Dragonaut. The rules of the kingdom require that they spend the night before the ceremony locked up, in quiet contemplation, without food, water, or talk, and without letting anyone in or themselves out. But when a stranger knocks at the window seeking help, Tiuri breaks these rules not only opening the window but going out to the stranger’s aid. At first his task seems simple, to deliver a letter of importance to the stranger’s master, the Black Knight with the White shield, which Tiuri thinks he can complete and be back before the ceremony, though there will be some explaining to do. But when he finds the Black Knight with the White shield has been tricked and murdered, and the Knight, before dying hands over his task to Tiuri to complete, he realises what he must do will neither be quick nor simple. He must travel all the way to the kingdom of Unawen to deliver the secret message to the King himself. Not only is the journey hard enough in itself, in pursuit of Tiuri are the Red Riders, responsible for murdering the Black Knight with the White shield, and also the Grey Knights who suspect Tiuri of the foul deed. Along the way, however, some misunderstandings clear up and he meets various people, in the forest and the cities he visits, who are more than willing to help him accomplish his task even if he can’t tell them what it is. But there are also dangers aplenty, and traps as many along the way, and Tiuri must avoid falling into these traps or being defeated (or indeed dissuaded) by the dangers if he wants to keep his word to the Knight and complete this task.

At a little under 500 pages, this is not a short read but one which was very enjoyable for me. It may not feel as fast paced as one would expect from an adventure story but keeps one interested throughout, for while one might well know that Tiuri will accomplish his task at the end, one does want to know how he does it, and what each adventure he falls into along the way holds for him. Tiuri is a likeable character, believable as a young lad out on an adventure, doing what his heart tells him, yet regretting the Knighthood that he has lost and may never get again, and the same can be said about his friend Piak, who also finds himself at one point having to decide between two things he seems to want equally. While we may not face those very same questions, the kind of decisions they are faced with and must take, and the lessons they learn along the way are relevant for everyone in whatever age and situation. (In fact there is quite a bit of wisdom hidden in there―no not the preachy kind). ‘Villains’ seem to lurk around every corner to bring young Tiuri down but they too are not all of the same shade, as one will see, and some can surprise one. The menacing ‘main’ villain of the piece though is only one shade and very well done. Tiuri may not have been made a knight at the start of his adventure, but his courage, loyalty, and even tenacity show that he is one even if he doesn’t have the title. I enjoyed the world of knights and kings that this book took me into (and incidentally, now I finally properly understand what a Knight errant is―no I wasn’t entirely clear so far). This was also one of the few books I’ve read (there must have been others, though honestly I can’t think of one at the moment) where the return journey (though obviously shorter than the adventure itself) is given some space and doesn’t pass by in a blur. In it, old friends are met again, some explanations given, and some promise of ‘romance’ (like in the Band of Soldiers) is seen. I also liked the artwork, which decorates the pages between ‘parts’ of the book, very much. This is a combination of shadows/silhouettes and something like the spray feature on paintbrush (sorry again for my terrible terminology describing this) but I liked the effect the artist achieved―oh I just looked and the illustrations are by Dragt herself, something I hadn’t noticed at the beginning. Dragt, incidentally, as Wikipedia tells me, is considered “the greatest Dutch female writer for children”. I look forward to reading more of Dragt’s books and also exploring Pushkin’s other titles. Four and a half stars. ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jul 28, 2019 Abigail rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Readers Who Enjoy Rollicking Good Adventure Stories

Shelves: childrens-fiction, childrens-translations, childrens-fantasy, dutch-children, pushkin-childrens-books, knights, ruritanian-romance

On the eve of being knighted by his king, sixteen-year-old Tiuri, son of Tiuri the Valiant, is keeping vigil in a small chapel outside of the capital city of the kingdom of Dagonaut. Forbidden from speaking, or opening the chapel doors to anyone during his night-long fast, Tiuri does both when a mysterious old man comes begging for help. A knight in spirit, even if he is not one in fact, Tiuri is helpless to resist this supplicant in need, and soon finds himself caught up in an epic adventure in On the eve of being knighted by his king, sixteen-year-old Tiuri, son of Tiuri the Valiant, is keeping vigil in a small chapel outside of the capital city of the kingdom of Dagonaut. Forbidden from speaking, or opening the chapel doors to anyone during his night-long fast, Tiuri does both when a mysterious old man comes begging for help. A knight in spirit, even if he is not one in fact, Tiuri is helpless to resist this supplicant in need, and soon finds himself caught up in an epic adventure involving a slain knight, a mysterious letter that must be delivered to the king of Unauwen - the land on the far side of the Great Mountains - and a dangerous month-long journey through dark forests, across high mountains and over treacherous rivers. Determined to keep his word and fulfill his mission, Tiuri encounters many enemies on his quest, but makes many friends as well...

Originally published in Dutch as De brief voor de koning, this intensely engrossing, utterly engaging children's fantasy is a delight to read. I devoured it, racing through its 500+ pages, and finishing it with an immediate desire to know more of Tiuri's adventures, by tracking down the sequel (thus far only available in English in the UK), The Secrets of the Wild Wood . I may have to order it from abroad... Tiuri is an appealing hero, goodhearted, rather innocent, and so determined to keep his word and to remain faithful to his principles as a knight. It is these very qualities which aid him on his journey, as his kindness and innocence win him allies, and his bravery in aiding others converts would-be enemies. This last, as exemplified through the story of Jaro, is particularly powerful. Although most online reviewers seem to love The Letter for the King, I have seen one or two who have criticized it for its simplicity. This, for me, is its strength and power. At its heart, this is the story about the letter of the law versus its spirit; about holding onto principles (knightly, in this case) even when it seems that the 'reward' we have expected for doing so disappears; about keeping faith and remaining true to our purpose, even in the face of danger. Simple? Yes, I suppose so - but what a rich simplicity such stories bring to us, their readers! Recommended to anyone who enjoys rollicking good adventure stories. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

May 18, 2019 Eustacia Tan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I heard about this book from Krysta at Pages Unbound and it sounded really interesting so I hunted down the nearest library copy. As expected, I was not disappointed.

The Letter Tor The King starts with Tiuri keeping vigil. This is the last task that he has to do before he becomes a knight. But when someone knocks at the door asking for help, Tiuri knows that the knightly thing to do is to help. Even if it means giving up his knighthood. And so, Tiuri starts a quest to deliver an important letter I heard about this book from Krysta at Pages Unbound and it sounded really interesting so I hunted down the nearest library copy. As expected, I was not disappointed.

The Letter Tor The King starts with Tiuri keeping vigil. This is the last task that he has to do before he becomes a knight. But when someone knocks at the door asking for help, Tiuri knows that the knightly thing to do is to help. Even if it means giving up his knighthood. And so, Tiuri starts a quest to deliver an important letter to the king of the neighbouring kingdom, one that will bring him much danger and many friends.

For some reason, this book reminded me of The Book of Three from The Chronicles of Prydain. While it doesn’t have as much humour as The Book of Three, it has the same classical feel. It’s a pretty straightforward quest and the emphasis is really more on Tiuri growing than it is on the plot (although Tiuri’s growth is not as obvious as Taran’s). I liked that Tiuri got to meet a lot of different people on the way. The main characters are Tiuri and Piak, his companion, but there was a steady amount of characters that they get to meet. I feel that having two main characters help in allowing the minor characters to have an adequate amount of page-time without it being too overwhelming.

Although the plot wasn’t the most fast-paced, I enjoyed it. There was the right amount of mystery that made me want to read on and I was pretty satisfied by the ending as well. This isn’t like most YA fantasies that have battle after battle, but is more like The Book of Three and Lord of The Rings, which for the most part aren’t the fastest paced books.

The Letter For The King is a classic fantasy YA that will probably appeal to fans of books like the Chronicles of Prydain. It feels like it’s aimed towards a slightly younger audience than the Chronicles of Prydain and the Hobbit, but I still really enjoyed it. I realised at the end that there are other books in the series, which I’ll have to read too.

This review was first posted at Eustea Reads ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 12, 2021 Michelle Curie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-books

It's been a whopping fifteen years since I first read this as a kid. It's a strange and magical thing to return to something a former self has been obsessed with – though, as an adult now, I am not quite the target group for this anymore.

This is the story of Tiuri, a 16-year old boy who is to be knighted the following day. His final task is to spent one last night in silence in a chapel. What sounds easy enough, suddenly becomes difficult when someone knocks on the door, urgently asking for hel ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 27, 2013 Ellis marked it as reread · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2016, own-physical-copy, high-hopes, slow-burning-pace, tripping-roads, please-be-my-friend-too, series, in-my-possession, middle-grade, i-will-go-down-with-this-ship

This was a bit of a sad experience because The Letter for the King was one of my favourite books as a child, but I could tell during my reread that I wouldn't have been/wasn't as into it as an adult. I actually think this might be the rare case where I prefer the Dutch version. Part of that is definitely nostalgia-motivated, and it's not so much that you can tell this is an English translation as that it just reads very formal and literal in English, which I think might be less the case in the D ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 26, 2018 Alyson Stone rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, fantasy

Book: The Letter for the King
Author: Tonke Dragt
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC. Well, I guess it’s not really an ARC since the book was published a long time ago, but this is a new edition.

So, I have never heard of this book until now. I don’t know how it could have slipped by me, but it did. The Letter for the King has everything that a great fantasy needs. It has adventure, excitement, and well written characters. It i ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 19, 2019 Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: quest, challenge, on-the-road, kids-1001, travel, children-s-books, adventure

Tiuri is called out of his pre-knightly vigil to help a man desperate for assistance, and, ruining his chances to become a knight, he sets off to aid the man by taking an important letter to the king.

It's a perilous trip across the Great Mountains, and Tiuri is pursued by wicked men determined to prevent the delivery of the letter.

It was seeing the strong character of this sixteen-year-old that I loved most about this book. Again and again, Tiuri was tested and set upon and tried and yet he alw ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 14, 2020 Ash marked it as dnf · review of another edition

Shelves: movie-tv, naah, foreign-authors, children-s-fantasy, translated

DNF @10%
I wanted to read the book before Netflix adaptation came out. But just don’t feel like continuing. Nothing is wrong with this book as such. This is a middle grade book so the plot isn’t very complex. I will keep this on my shelf and give it to my son when he can read. The plot is very simple - it’s like someone made a book out of Frodo’s flight in Lord of the rings from Bagend. It’s almost like first half of the Fellowship of the ring, except that the protagonist is traveling alone with ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 11, 2017 Vishy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Loved, loved, loved it! Longer review soon!

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

May 27, 2020 Kate rated it did not like it

Slow meandering plot that led to an anticlimactic ending. So disappointed. I was hoping this would be better than the show and I found that the show at least put some urgency to the plot that this story desperately needed, even if the Netflix ending was weird as heck.

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

May 24, 2018 Calzean rated it really liked it

Shelves: author-netherlands, woman-author, fantasy, junior-fiction

A simple tale of Tiuri, a 16 year old, who goes on a journey to delivery a message of great importance to a King in the land over the mountains. Along the way he is helped by various people, escapes from evil dudes, finds friendship and remains loyal and determined to complete his task.
This is a new edition of a Dutch children's classic which remains enjoyable in its simplicity, lack of fantasy and prose that takes the reader into another place and another time. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2018 Swati rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, books-in-translation, european, classics, fantasy, children-s-literature, favourites

When my friend and book blogger posted this glowing review of Tonke Dragt’s “The Letter for the King” last year, I was intrigued because it appeared to be all about knights and chivalry and adventure. Who doesn’t like the sound of that? A month or so ago, I found this book waiting to be reviewed on NetGalley, and my heart leapt! Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley, I got a copy, and I finished reading it yesterday.

The Letter for the King is the thrilling story of one boy’s battle against evil When my friend and book blogger posted this glowing review of Tonke Dragt’s “The Letter for the King” last year, I was intrigued because it appeared to be all about knights and chivalry and adventure. Who doesn’t like the sound of that? A month or so ago, I found this book waiting to be reviewed on NetGalley, and my heart leapt! Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley, I got a copy, and I finished reading it yesterday.

The Letter for the King is the thrilling story of one boy’s battle against evil, set in an enchanted
world of chivalry, courage and true friendship.

Says the book summary from Pushkin Press. I would say, thrilling is an understatement. As soon as I reached the last page, I was Googling to see if there is any way I could procure the sequel, “The Secrets of the Wild Wood.” I couldn’t wait to go on an adventure with Tiuri again.

The Letter for the King reinforces classic values like bravery, loyalty, and chivalry throughout Tiuri’s journey. But what makes the book rise above an average boy’s adventure is the fact that Tiuri is flawed despite having so many good qualities. He is impulsive, his bravery sometimes borders on foolhardiness, and his good heart sometimes comes in the way of his progress.

In most cases, though, Tiuri’s sensibilities save him from slippery situations. In fact, that’s the other aspect of the book. You would think that a story about knights set in the Middle Ages would have tons of action with swords and blood and gore. The Letter for the King barely has any swordfights and, in fact, hardly any skirmishes.

The entire book moves forward on the themes of intrigue, plotting, and little pockets of suspense. Every few pages, Tiuri comes up against an obstacle, and his fate hangs in balance for a while before it’s resolved lending the book a fairly predictable cadence. At times, due to this, it reads more like the tale of a solo traveller on a hike across the Camino rather than an action packed tale.

Friendship is another strong theme in the book. Apart from Tiuri’s steadfast friendship with Piak, the quick bonds formed with the various people he meets on his journey, and the strong brotherhood that the knights share are all admirably and beautifully played out. But in that sense, it’s one of those books that you would stereotypically first think of for boys rather than for girls with its lack of any other emotion and significant women characters.

Mostly, the principles in the story never go to the grey area, and there is not much ambiguity. People are either good or bad, Tiuri has either friends or enemies, and they all mostly stay that way.

Written in the traditional manner of a good, old-fashioned adventure, the tale of Tiuri the knight has long served as one of the most loved bedtime stories for children, and a popular fantasy among adults in The Netherlands. It has been frequently compared to The Lord of the Rings where we have Frodo going on a mission, very similar to Tiuri. But I think the canvas of Tolkiens’ epic is way larger, more complex, and much darker.

At over 500 pages long, this is one long adventure. But I never the felt the weight of time even for a second as Tiuri’s encounters kept me enthralled. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 25, 2020 Blue rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Want to see more...
Bookstagram

Website
Thank you Allen & Unwin for this book in exchange for an honest review

I am actually surprised that I haven’t heard of this book before considering it has been around for a while and there is a Netflix TV show for it, guess I have been living under a rock!!
I do love finding an inspiring character. Generally the hero of the story who is depicted as brave really isn’t and relies on other’s to assist them or they seem absolutely perfect and everything magicall Want to see more...
Bookstagram

Website
Thank you Allen & Unwin for this book in exchange for an honest review

I am actually surprised that I haven’t heard of this book before considering it has been around for a while and there is a Netflix TV show for it, guess I have been living under a rock!!
I do love finding an inspiring character. Generally the hero of the story who is depicted as brave really isn’t and relies on other’s to assist them or they seem absolutely perfect and everything magically goes their way. Tiuri isn’t like that at all and is generally a good and kind human that honestly tries to carry out his tasks no matter what gets thrown in his path.
You read about a young 11 year old boy that braves the elements, the outside world and his fear as he carries on the task he know has to be done, the fate of the world rests in his hands.

This book was soo beautiful and one of those books that I think will be an instant classic and will never age. The story was extremely well written, providing enough detail of the world building to allow you to imagine it and draws you into the story, the world and fall for the characters easily. There is well and truly enough action and adventure to keep you entertained and suitable for all ages. You also get to see the internal battle that rages on in Tiuri, were he must strive not to give up and continue on his journey no matter how hard it is.
I have to admit, my favourite part about this book, is it isn’t a fantasy just for adults. Considering it’s age, this book is prime for the younger audience and give them the chance to enjoy fantasy. Going back to my childhood, there really wasn’t fantasy books that I could love and enjoy, you went from Deltora Quest to Wizards First Rule, and there was no middle ground. The Letter to the King, is great for the younger generation who devour fantasy and what nothing more to emerge themselves into a fictional world that isn’t for a child nor adult. Really for a book written in 1962, this book was well before it’s time and before the literary world evolved to cover all areas of genres for all ages. This really is a book ahead of its time and I highly recommend that you read it and hope you love it as much as I did.
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 26, 2020 Fiona rated it really liked it · review of another edition

First published in 1962 in the Netherlands(which is where I live), this children’s book has been read by many Dutch children and adults.

Now, when I was younger my sister actually had a copy of this book, which was the one I was reading in for the last few days. But it never appealed to me as a child. The cover did not, the title did not and I don’t think I have ever read the synopsis. Now that I am older and the Netflix series came out, I realised this children’s literature has been a big part i First published in 1962 in the Netherlands(which is where I live), this children’s book has been read by many Dutch children and adults.

Now, when I was younger my sister actually had a copy of this book, which was the one I was reading in for the last few days. But it never appealed to me as a child. The cover did not, the title did not and I don’t think I have ever read the synopsis. Now that I am older and the Netflix series came out, I realised this children’s literature has been a big part in our reading history and I should read it at least once. So I did.

This entire book I had to keep in mind that this is a children’s book. And sometimes, those appeal less to adults.

Tiuri is about to become a knight when a stranger calls for help. Answering to his plea, Tiuri has to deliver a letter to the king of the kingdom next to his. A very important letter. During his quest, he encounters dangerous moments, enemies and makes new friends.

So I read this in a few days. The writing style isn’t difficult. Which is understandable since this is a children’s book. The pace is good and the story is quite nice! I love the drawn map in front, because that way I could really follow where Tiuri’s quest was taking him. I definitely understand why this is so popular under children and adults. What I am missing in this story is actual thrill and sometimes the characters are missing dept. But considering this is a children’s book and it has to keep their attention without frightening them into not being able to sleep at night, I understand. I do like how the deep friendship between Tiuri and Piak unfolds. I love how they appreciate the sights and nature around them.

I don’t really understand why there is magic in the TV series, when there is literally non in the book. I think it is a shame actually, because that is part of the charm of this book. Magic isn’t always necessary to make a children’s or YA book great. I actually think it is really refreshing that there is no magic in it.

This really is a classic children’s book that deserved the awards it got. As an adult now, I probably won’t read it again anytime soon. But had I read it as a kid, I probably would have reread it a dozen times. I really enjoyed reading this book and I am about to start in part two, so I would definitely recommend it! ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2020 Smitha Murthy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Smitha by: Swati

Shelves: fantasy, friendship, favorites, fiction, translated-world-lit, children, women-writers

I had heard my friend rave about this book for nearly a year now. It had been quite an expensive buy, so I had put it off, until a sudden discount made me take the plunge. And now I am glad I did! In times like these, I needed a book that would just be a rollicking adventure, a travel tale that twists and slides, and at heart, a beautiful story. Who wouldn’t love that?

At times, I wished that I could give poor Tiuri a smartphone. All that the poor lad had to do was take a message to the King! Her ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 16, 2020 Zach Dickerson rated it it was amazing

This is the kind of book that you could read as a kid, love it; come back as an adult, read it again, and it still has the same magic. It's a sweet story that has such an endearing charm to it. There's an indescribable timelessness to this book. It won't leave your jaw dropped, but it will 150% warm your heart. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 01, 2018 Dirk Schut rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

An amazing children's book. I really enjoyed reading it, though the concept of people being either purely good or evil is not something representing reality, it is a children's book. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Goodreads Librari...: Audio book cover	4	14	Oct 14, 2019 12:56PM
The Letter for the King	6	78	Jan 10, 2016 02:46AM
Young Adult bookc...: De brief voor de koning - Tonke Dragt	2	11	Dec 03, 2015 03:18PM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Fantasy

331 users

Young Adult

114 users

Fiction

89 users

Childrens

73 users

Adventure

60 users

Classics

38 users

Historical > Historical Fiction

37 users

Childrens > Middle Grade

31 users

European Literature > Dutch Literature

23 users

Historical

15 users

See top shelves…

About Tonke Dragt

Tonke Dragt

188 followers

Tonke Dragt werd in 1930 geboren in Nederlands-Indië, en heeft daar het grootste deel van haar jeugd doorgebracht. In 1942 kwam ze met haar moeder en twee zusjes terecht in een Jappenkamp, en daar heeft ze ontdekt dat ze ze kon ‘ontsnappen’ door verhalen te verzinnen. Ze schreef en tekende in eerder gebruikte uitgegumde schriftjes en zelfs op wc-papier, want er was bijna niets. Samen met een vrien

Na de oorlog kwam het gezin naar Nederland. Tonke deed hier haar eindexamen van de middelbare school en ging naar de academie voor beeldende kunsten. Ze werd tekenlerares. Als de orde in haar klas verstoord dreigde te raken, begon ze altijd een verhaal te vertellen. En dan werd het muisstil. Ze organiseerde op school ook een spookverhalenschrijversclub, waar de meest griezelige dingen gebeurden!

In 1956 werd voor het eerst een verhaal van Tonke gepubliceerd, en daarna werden er steeds meer gevraagd. Ze kreeg het druk: overdag lesgeven en ’s avonds en vooral ’s nachts schrijven. In 1961 verscheen haar eerste boek: Verhalen van de tweelingbroers.

Een jaar later kwam De brief voor de koning, dat werd bekroond met de prijs voor het beste kinderboek van het jaar, een voorloper van de Gouden Griffel. Het kreeg ook een vervolg: Geheimen van het Wilde Woud.

De meeste kinderboekenschrijvers schreven in die tijd realistische verhalen, maar Tonke creëerde haar eigen werelden, zoals de Rijken van Dagonaut en Unauwen.

Het thema ‘tijd’ speelt vaak een rol in haar boeken. De hoofdpersoon van De torens van februari kan eens in de vier jaar, op schrikkeldag, naar een andere wereld reizen, en Torenhoog en mijlen breed speelt zich af in de toekomst. Het geheim van de klokkenmaker gaat over een tijdmachine – en vooral over de vraag wat er gebeurt als je daar niet heel voorzichtig mee omgaat…

Tonke houdt van poezen. Die geven haar de mogelijkheid een tijger te aaien. En tijgers intrigeren haar: Ogen van tijgers is niet voor niets geschreven!

Al haar poezen (en ze heeft er vele gehad) zijn op een bijzondere manier bij haar gekomen: aanloopkatten, eenzame katten als het baasje was overleden… Ze krijgen allemaal een naam die met een W begint. Wapperstaart, Woesti en Wicci de Winterpoes zijn de meest recente.

...more

Other books in the series

De brief voor de koning (2 books)

Books by Tonke Dragt

Geheimen van het Wilde Woud (De brief voor de koning #2)

Torenhoog en mijlen breed: een toekomstverhaal

More…

YA Debut Is an Ojibwe Murder Mystery Ten Years in the Making

Angeline Boulley set out over a decade ago to write the story she wanted to read as a young Ojibwe teenager. The result is Firekeeper's Daughter,...

Trivia About De brief voor de ...

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Letter for th...

“As long as you remember that fighting evil doesn't necessarily make you good! Good and evil are each other's enemies, but they are often found close together.” — 9 likes

“What does he look like? Not big, not small, not short, not tall, not old not young, not dark nor blond. His eyes are the only thing that give him away; they’re as mean as a snake’s. We were all afraid of him. Sometimes we feared we might become as evil as him!” — 1 likes

More quotes…