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Lord Brocktree is the thirteenth published book in the Redwall saga by Brian Jacques. Chronologically, the narrative takes place before all other novels in the series. The prologue and epilogue occur sometime after the events of Taggerung, but before the events of Triss.
Notably, Redwall Abbey does not appear in the story.
Book Divisions (English)[]
- Book 1: The Days of Ungatt Trunn (also entitled: "Dorothea Leaves Home")
- Book 2: At The Court of King Bucko (also entitled: "The Tribulations of a Haremaid")
- Book 3: Comes a Badger Lord (also entitled: "A Shawl for Aunt Blench")
- NOTE: This is the only tale in the series which books have subtitles.
Summary[]
Brocktree, father of Boar the Fighter, grandfather of Bella of Brockhall, and great-grandfather of Sunflash the Mace, sets out to find the legendary mountain Salamandastron. Along the way he meets the quick-talking hare Dotti, otter Ruffgar Brookback, and mole Gurth Longladle. With his three new companions, as well as a tribe of Guosim shrews, he journeys to the court of King Bucko Bigbones to find aid in the recapture of Salamandastron from the wildcat Ungatt Trunn.
Meanwhile, at Salamandastron, Lord Stonepaw, the aging father of Brocktree, rules. Seasons of peace have left the mountain stronghold with few fighters, and the approximately 150 hares that remain are long past their prime. Ungatt Trunn sends his messenger, the Grand Fragorl, to demand that Salamandastron surrenders, but they refuse, and Stonepaw sends Fleetscut to look for help and allies. The mountain falls under attack by Ungatt Trunn and his horde. Eventually the mountain is overrun, Stonepaw and his hares find refuge in an underground pool under the mountain, but they cannot stay for long with dwindling supplies. After hiding in the cavern for days, the hares find an opening leading out in the ceiling after remembering a poem. Unfortunately, they are discovered, and Stonepaw gives them time to leave by making a last stand in the underground pool. Stonepaw takes many vermin with him as he drowns himself to allow a few surviving hares to escape from their hideout in the cellars. They soon met up with a group of otters led by Brogalaw and his heron Rulango. The wildcat took at least threescore hares as prisoners, however, through the efforts of Stiffener Medick and the otters they escaped.
Fleetscut eventually finds a grove near Salamandastron and recruits the help of chieftain Jukka the Sling and her squirrels. They also journey to the court of Bucko Bigbones.
Brocktree and his friends eventually find the court of Bucko Bigbones and discover the massive amount of creatures at his command. Brocktree has Dorothea challenge Bucko for his place as king. After winning three contests, Dorothea succeeds him as king. However, she gives the command of his army to Lord Brocktree. They all journey to Salamandastron to reclaim the mountain.
Thanks to the Bark Crew, the group of hares who had escaped from Trunn, as well as the sea otter clan of Brogalaw, the Blue Hordes slowly starved with their supplies cut off. In a final stand of the Bark Crew, which Trunn had tricked them into, Lord Brocktree joins forces and saves the day.
A massive final battle begins, and Jukka the Sling and Fleetscut perish in the melee. Eventually, when the battle ends up a near-stalemate, Trunn and Brocktree face off in a duel. After a failed assassination attempt on Brocktree, the badger eventually paralyzes Trunn by breaking his spine. He is thrown into the water but survives, only to drown, even though Groddil, one of his former advisors, was present during Trunn's predicament and left him to die.
This story was read to the hares at Salamandastron many seasons later by Badger Lord Russano the Wise.
Audiobooks[]
Lord Brocktree has been released on three different audiobooks.
Trivia[]
- According to a letter to a fan, Brian Jacques was writing Lord Brocktree as early as December 1998. In his reply, he mentions a wildcat villain who was "Tsarminas older Brother." Seemingly, this was altered to uncle.
- The first word in the text of this book is "Lord," while the last word is "Brocktree." This makes Lord Brocktree the only Redwall book to feature the first word of the title as the first word in the book and the last word of the title as the last word in the book.
- Lord Brocktree is the only Redwall book in which Redwall Abbey is not present.
- Lord Brocktree is the only Redwall book in which Martin the Warrior is not present in physical or spirit form, though a "fearless mouse, bearing a beautiful sword" is mentioned in a dream-like vision of Brocktree's.
- Lord Brocktree is the only Redwall book to be named for a badger character.
Release details[]
- 2000, US, Philomel Books, ISBN 0399235906, Pub. Date: September 2000, Hardcover
- 2000, UK, Hutchinson Children's Books Ltd., ISBN 0091768772, Pub. Date: September 2000, Hardcover
- 2001, US, Ace, ISBN 9780441008728, Pub. Date: September 2001, Paperback
- 2001, UK, Red Fox, ISBN 9780099411192, Pub. Date: 2001, Paperback
- 2005, US, Puffin, ISBN 9781417686483, Pub. Date: June 2005, Paperback
- 2007, UK, Red Fox, ISBN 186230145X, Pub. Date: August 2007, Paperback
- 2010, US, Firebird, ISBN 9780142501108, Pub. Date: August 2010, Paperback
| Books in the Redwall Chronicles, by Brian Jacques |
|
Redwall · Mossflower · Mattimeo · Mariel of Redwall · Salamandastron · Martin the Warrior · The Bellmaker · Outcast of Redwall · Pearls of Lutra · The Long Patrol · Marlfox · The Legend of Luke · Lord Brocktree · Taggerung · Triss · Loamhedge · Rakkety Tam · High Rhulain · Eulalia! · Doomwyte · The Sable Quean · The Rogue Crew |