La Belle Sauvage

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La Belle Sauvage
La Belle Sauvage.jpg
First edition cover
Author Philip Pullman
LanguageEnglish
Series The Book of Dust
Release number
1
Genre Fantasy
Publisher David Fickling Books (UK) [1]
Publication date
19 October 2017 [1]
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardback)
Pages560 (UK) [1]
ISBN 978-0-385-60441-3
[Fic] 22
Followed by The Secret Commonwealth  

La Belle Sauvage is a fantasy novel by Philip Pullman published in 2017. It is the first volume of a planned trilogy titled The Book of Dust and is set twelve years before Pullman's His Dark Materials . It presents events prior to the arrival of the six-month-old Lyra Belacqua at Jordan College, Oxford.

Contents

Setting

The setting is a world dominated by the Magisterium (commonly called "the Church"), an international theocracy which actively suppresses heresy. In this world, humans' souls naturally exist outside of their bodies in the form of sentient "dæmons" in animal form which accompany, aid, and comfort their humans. An important plot device is the alethiometer, or symbol reader, of which just six are known to exist in this world. By setting three of the alethiometer's hands to point to symbols around a dial a skilled practitioner can pose questions, which are answered by the movement around the dial of a fourth hand.

Plot

The Trout Inn--a fictional version of which features in the book Trout Inn by the Thames at Godstow - geograph.org.uk - 708425.jpg
The Trout Inn—a fictional version of which features in the book

Eleven-year-old Malcolm Polstead and his dæmon Asta live three miles from Oxford. Malcolm works alongside fifteen-year-old Alice in his parents' inn, The Trout, close to the Priory of St. Rosamund where Malcolm helps the nuns with maintenance and cooking. One day, three men, led by the former Lord Chancellor, Lord Nugent, arrive at the inn and question Malcolm about the priory. Shortly afterwards, an infant aged around six months named Lyra arrives in the care of the nuns.

Walking near the river, Malcolm sees a failed attempt at a dead drop and finds a secret message. The intended recipient is Hannah, an Oxford academic specialising in the alethiometer who is secretly helping an organisation known as "Oakley Street" in its fight against the theocratic extremism of the Magisterium. Using the alethiometer Hannah finds Malcolm and retrieves her message. The two strike up a friendship in which Malcolm assists her intelligence-gathering and she provides him with books to read from her own library.

The Magisterium's influence grows. At Malcolm's school, students are encouraged to join the League of St. Alexander, and to report anybody—including teachers—who contradict the Magisterium's religious views. Coram van Texel, also working for Oakley Street, is investigating the activities of Marisa Coulter in Sweden. He discovers that she is looking into the Rusakov field and has asked an alethiometrist to find her daughter Lyra's location. Coram is followed by a man with a malevolent hyena dæmon and fights him, badly wounding the dæmon's front leg. Lyra's father, Lord Asriel, visits the inn and Malcolm takes him to visit Lyra. To escape his pursuers Asriel borrows Malcolm's canoe, La Belle Sauvage. As a token of thanks, he returns it significantly improved. Coram warns Malcolm of an impending flood, but Malcolm is unable to convince people to act. A man named Gerard Bonneville arrives at the inn, accompanied by a three-legged hyena dæmon, and Malcolm sees him snooping around the priory.

Heavy rain starts to fall. Alice warns Malcolm about Bonneville, whom they see trying to take the baby Lyra. As the flood arrives, Malcolm and Alice rescue the child and escape down river in La Belle Sauvage. They intend to stop at Jordan College to seek academic sanctuary for Lyra, but are prevented by the ferocity of the floodwaters. Instead, they head to London, where Lord Asriel lives, pursued by Bonneville; both Oakley Street and the Magisterium are also searching for them. They narrowly escape from Bonneville when Malcolm stabs him in the thigh and Alice shoots his dæmon, shattering her other leg. They take his heavy backpack. Shortly afterwards, they meet George Boatwright, a former patron of The Trout who has been in hiding with a small community since offending the Church. Their arrival is reported to The League of St. Alexander, and Lyra is captured and taken to an orphanage run by a convent. Malcolm enters through the scullery and rescues her.

The children continue their journey in the canoe. A fairy woman named Diania gives them food and feeds Lyra, whom she claims and intends to keep. In Bonneville's pack, they find his scientific papers describing the Rusakov field and an alethiometer in a puzzle box. They use the box to help them escape by tricking Diania and winning a challenge to keep Lyra. Later, they find themselves in an elegant garden where a party is being held. Behind a wall of mist nearby are all the things the partygoers wish to forget. Their onward passage is blocked by a pair of massive lock gates controlled by a river giant. Pretending to have authorisation from the King, they persuade the giant to open the gates. The canoe ends up at a mausoleum, where Bonneville attacks again but is killed by Malcolm.

Alice, Malcolm, and Lyra finally make it to London, closely followed by the forces of the Magisterium. Lord Nugent and Lord Asriel rescue them from La Belle Sauvage, which is breaking up, and Lord Asriel takes them by gyrocopter to Jordan College where he obtains academic sanctuary for Lyra and leaves her in the care of the Master. Malcolm secretly places Bonneville's alethiometer with Lyra's possessions.

Publication history

Pullman conceived The Book of Dust before the publication of Lyra's Oxford in 2003, originally as a single volume. [2] [3] Writing was under way by 2005, [4] but by 2011 Pullman said that he was considering splitting the novel into two volumes, one set before His Dark Materials and the other set afterwards. [5] In February 2017, Pullman announced that The Book of Dust had become a 'companion' trilogy. [6]

Prior to publication it had been announced that The Book of Dust was to be published by Random House Children’s Books and David Fickling Books in the UK, and by Random House Children's Books in the US. [7] La Belle Sauvage was ultimately released on 19 October 2017 [1] by David Fickling Books in the UK, [1] and by Alfred A. Knopf in the US. [8]

Reception

The novel received positive reviews. Marina Warner writing in The Guardian described it as "worth the wait", calling it "old-fashioned and comfy". [9] The Independent said that "La Belle Sauvage has the feel of an extended preface; thrillingly entertaining and beautifully written, but ultimately something of an introduction to the story proper we know follows thereafter". [10] The Washington Post was extremely positive, stating that "too few things in our own world are worth a 17-year-wait: The Book of Dust is one of them". [11] The A.V. Club said that "even without the deep well of context of those other books of Dust, La Belle Sauvage stands on its own as a singularly beguiling work of fantasy. It's sure to be devoured by readers young and old alike". [12]

The New York Times took issue with flat dialogue and pacing but said that "even with its longueurs, the book is full of wonder." [13] The Spectator said that "as a tale of flight and pursuit, it’s altogether enjoyable," but suggested that Pullman's larger aspiration—"to see off Christianity"—was an impediment to his storytelling and that the metaphysical ideas around which the narrative revolves were its least successful part. [14]

Adaptation

A stage adaptation of the novel by Bryony Lavery was scheduled to be performed at the Bridge Theatre London in July 2020 with Nicholas Hytner directing. Hytner had also directed the original National Theatre adaptation of His Dark Materials. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the closing of the theatre for most of 2020, and the production was postponed. The play opened on 7 December 2021, and closed on 26th February 2022. [15]

Related Research Articles

<i>His Dark Materials</i> Novel trilogy by Philip Pullman

His Dark Materials is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Philip Pullman consisting of Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife (1997), and The Amber Spyglass (2000). It follows the coming of age of two children, Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry, as they wander through a series of parallel universes. The novels have won a number of awards, including the Carnegie Medal in 1995 for Northern Lights and the 2001 Whitbread Book of the Year for The Amber Spyglass. In 2003, the trilogy was ranked third on the BBC's The Big Read poll.

Lyra Belacqua, later known as Lyra Silvertongue, is the heroine of Philip Pullman's trilogy His Dark Materials. In His Dark Materials Lyra is a young girl who inhabits a universe parallel to our own. Brought up in the cloistered world of Jordan College, Oxford, she finds herself embroiled in a cosmic war between Lord Asriel on one side, and a deity figure known as The Authority and his Regent, Metatron, on the other. Lyra also features prominently in the subsequent trilogy The Book of Dust.

<i>The Subtle Knife</i> 1997 novel by Philip Pullman

The Subtle Knife is a young-adult fantasy novel published in 1997 and the second book in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. The novel continues the adventures of Lyra Belacqua recounted in the first novel, Northern Lights, as she investigates the mysterious phenomenon of Dust. Will Parry is introduced as a companion to Lyra, and together they explore new worlds in the search for Will's father.

<i>The Amber Spyglass</i> 2000 novel by Philip Pullman

The Amber Spyglass is the third and final novel in the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. Published in 2000, it won the 2001 Whitbread Book of the Year award, the first children's novel to do so. It was named Children's Book of the Year at the 2001 British Book Awards, and was the first children's book to be longlisted for the Booker Prize.

<i>Northern Lights</i> (Pullman novel) 1995 novel by Philip Pullman

Northern Lights is a young-adult fantasy novel by Philip Pullman, published in 1995 by Scholastic UK. Set in a parallel universe, it follows the journey of Lyra Belacqua to the Arctic in search of her missing friend, Roger Parslow, and her imprisoned uncle, Lord Asriel, who has been conducting experiments with a mysterious substance known as "Dust".

<i>The Book of Dust</i> Fantasy novel trilogy by Philip Pullman

The Book of Dust is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Philip Pullman, which expands his trilogy His Dark Materials. The books further chronicle the adventures of Lyra Belacqua and her battle against the theocratic organisation known as the Magisterium, and shed more light on the mysterious substance called Dust.

Will Parry is one of the protagonists in Philip Pullman's trilogy His Dark Materials, along with Lyra Belacqua. He first appears in the series at the start of the second novel, The Subtle Knife, and continues through to the final book, The Amber Spyglass. Introduced as a 12-year-old boy, he meets and befriends Lyra in the world of Cittàgazze and teams up with her in order to uncover the mysteries of Dust and the disappearance of his father many years previously. He takes possession of the Subtle Knife which he uses to aid Lord Asriel in his bid to destroy the Authority.

Dust (<i>His Dark Materials</i>) Fictional particle in His Dark Materials trilogy

In Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust trilogies, Dust or Rusakov particles are particles associated with consciousness that are integral to the plot. In the multiverse in which these trilogies are set, Dust is attracted to consciousness, especially after puberty; the Church within the series associates Dust with original sin and seeks its end. Pullman described Dust in an interview as "an analogy of consciousness, and consciousness is this extraordinary property we have as human beings".

Dæmon (<i>His Dark Materials</i>) Fictional being from Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials

A dæmon is a type of fictional being in the Philip Pullman fantasy trilogies His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust. Dæmons are the external physical manifestation of a person's "inner-self" that takes the form of an animal. Dæmons have human intelligence, are capable of human speech—regardless of the form they take—and usually behave as though they are independent of their humans. Pre-pubescent children's dæmons can change form voluntarily to become any creature, real or imaginary. During adolescence a person's dæmon undergoes "settling", an event in which that person's dæmon permanently and involuntarily assumes the form of the animal which the person most resembles in character. Dæmons are usually of the opposite sex to their human, though same-sex dæmons do exist.

Lord Asriel is a character in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Asriel is a member of the aristocracy in a parallel universe dominated by the Church. Possessed of enormous determination and willpower, he is fierce in nature and commands great respect in both the political and academic spheres, being a military leader and a fellow of Jordan College in his world's version of Exeter College, Oxford.

Marisa Coulter, known simply as Mrs. Coulter, is a character in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and one of the main antagonists of Northern Lights: the former lover of Lord Asriel and biological mother of Lyra Belacqua.

<i>The Golden Compass</i> (film) 2007 film directed by Chris Weitz

The Golden Compass is a 2007 fantasy adventure film written and directed by Chris Weitz that is based on the 1995 novel Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, the first installment in Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, which was published as The Golden Compass in the United States. It stars Nicole Kidman as Marisa Coulter, Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra Belacqua, and Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel, alongside Sam Elliott, Ian McKellen, and Eva Green. In the film, Lyra joins a tribe of seafarers on a trip to the far North in search of children kidnapped by the Gobblers, a group supported by the universe's rulers, the Magisterium.

<i>The Golden Compass</i> (video game) 2007 video game

The Golden Compass is a 2007 action-adventure puzzle video game developed by Shiny Entertainment for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows, and by A2M for Nintendo DS. The game was published on all platforms by Sega, and was released in Europe in November 2007, and in North America in December. It is the video game of the 2007 film of the same name, although it is also partially based on the 1995 novel upon which the film is based, Northern Lights by Philip Pullman. The game was released prior to the film and features a slightly different sequence of events towards the end of the story, as well as additional footage at the end of the game not seen in the film. This was due to a last minute re-edit of the last half-hour of the film by New Line Cinema, which could not be incorporated into the game, as it was based on the shooting script. Due to this the game manages to portray motives and themes of the book in much more detail, including details only present in later books of the trilogy. The Golden Compass was the last game developed by Shiny before Foundation 9 Entertainment merged them with The Collective. A significant feature has Dakota Blue Richards and Freddie Highmore reprising their roles from the film.

His Dark Materials is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Philip Pullman consisting of Northern Lights (1995), The Subtle Knife (1997), and The Amber Spyglass (2000). This is a list of the fictional races and creatures in the novels.

This article covers the fictional locations in the His Dark Materials trilogy and related works by Philip Pullman.

<i>The Secret Commonwealth</i> 2019 novel by Philip Pullman

The Secret Commonwealth is a 2019 fantasy novel by Philip Pullman, the second volume of his planned trilogy The Book of Dust. The story is set twenty years or so after the events of La Belle Sauvage and ten years after the conclusion of the His Dark Materials trilogy. Lyra Silvertongue is now an adult.

<i>His Dark Materials</i> (TV series) 2019 British fantasy television series

His Dark Materials is a fantasy drama television series based on the trilogy of novels by Philip Pullman. It is produced by Bad Wolf and New Line Productions, for BBC One and HBO, with the latter handling international distribution. The show follows the orphan Lyra as she searches for a missing friend and discovers a kidnapping plot related to an invisible cosmic substance called Dust.

<i>La Belle Sauvage</i> (play)

The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage is a play by Bryony Lavery based on the 2017 fantasy novel of the same name by Philip Pullman which is the first part of The Book of Dust trilogy.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One". Penguin Books. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  2. Thorpe, Vanessa; Heawood, Jonathan (6 April 2003). "Pullman brings back Lyra for Oxford". The Guardian .
  3. Mitchison, Amanda (3 November 2003). "The art of darkness". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  4. "April message". Philip-Pullman.com. April 2005. Archived from the original on 16 October 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  5. Brown, Helen (17 October 2011). "Page in the Life: Philip Pullman". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  6. "Author Philip Pullman Announces A Follow-Up Trilogy To 'His Dark Materials'". NPR . 14 February 2017.
  7. Wood, Heloise (15 February 2017). "Long-awaited Philip Pullman series The Book of Dust revealed".
  8. "Online Catalog". catalog.loc.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  9. Warner, Marina (19 October 2017). "The Book of Dust Vol 1: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman review – worth the wait". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077.
  10. Scholes, Lucy (18 October 2017). "La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One by Philip Pullman, book review: Enjoyable return to a captivating universe". The Independent .
  11. Hand, Elizabeth (18 October 2017). "Philip Pullman's 'The Book of Dust' is an enthralling prequel to His Dark Materials". The Washington Post .
  12. PenzeyMoog, Caitlin (18 October 2017). "Philip Pullman returns to His Dark Materials with the stunning follow-up La Belle Sauvage". The A.V. Club . Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  13. Loughrey, Clarisse (19 October 2017). "La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman review round-up: His Dark Materials prequel is worth the wait". The New York Times . Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  14. McDonagh, Melanie McDonagh (21 October 2017). "The one almighty problem with Philip Pullman's storytelling". The Spectator . Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  15. "The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage". The Bridge Theatre. Retrieved 31 December 2019.