by Lloyd Alexander
Taran Wanderer is the fourth book in The Prydain Chronicles, and once again the story takes a slightly different setting and style than the previous Chronicles. In this book, the focus is on Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper for the most part. Taran comes to that place in his life where he asks the inevitable question we all must ask ourselves at some point in our lives, "Who am I?".
The reading of this book seems as if you are actually on the journey with Taran as he treks from one end of Prydain to the next. His search is for his parentage, because his feeling for Eilonwy have finally been realized in his heart, and he wishes to ask her to wed. The problem is that Eilonwy is a Princess, and Taran does not know who his parents are, and he wants to know before he asks Eilonwy for her hand.
Taran's journeys fill the book, and many of the familiar companions are met again, as well as many more. More parts of Prydain are explored and although this book is not as 'heroic' as the previous Chronicles, it is no less exciting.
Also, there is a strange feeling to the reader as you end this book because as this book ends, the fifth and final Chronicle begins. There are a lot of lessons of life to learn from this book, and it has held some special meaning to me, especially during my youth, but it does so even now.
Review by David Staley