For other uses, see Mattimeo (disambiguation)
Mattimeo is the third published book in the Redwall saga by Brian Jacques. It takes place after Redwall in terms of storyline, and serves as a direct sequel.
Book Divisions (English)[]
- Book 1: Slagar the Cruel
- Book 2: General Ironbeak
- Book 3: Malkariss
Summary[]
Exactly eight seasons after the Late Rose Summer Wars, Matthias and Cornflower's son, Mattimeo, fights with the young and obnoxious rat Vitch. Having been spoiled by the Redwall Abbey residents since birth, he receives punishment so that he may learn his responsibilities. Meanwhile, the masked fox Slagar the Cruel and his gang of slavers plan to sneak into the Abbey during the Midsummer Feast. Unbeknownst to the Abbey dwellers, Slagar used Vitch as a spy to obtain important information about the activities of the event. Slagar and his gang gain entrance to the Abbey by pretending to be a traveling circus. During their performance, they slip a sleeping draught into the Redwallers' drinks and trick them into drinking a toast.
After drugging the Abbey residents, Slagar kidnaps Mattimeo, Tim and Tess Churchmouse, Cynthia Bankvole, and Sam Squirrel. Friar Hugo and Lettie Bankvole attempt to stop the gang, but they're murdered. John Churchmouse survives, but he's left in critical condition from a deep wound.
The next morning, pouring rain awakens the Redwallers as they slowly recover from the drug's effects. Upon discovering the missing Dibbuns, Matthias, Basil Stag Hare, and Jess Squirrel leave the Abbey to hunt down Slagar and return the young creatures back to their parents. They follow a fake trail, intentionally left by Slagar's gang, and, in the process, encounter a young otter named Cheek.
The kidnapped victims learn that they have been chained inside Saint Ninian's Church. They meet Auma, a young badger maid, who had been captured earlier. The slavers and the slaves start their long journey towards the underground kingdom of Malkariss, though the slaves don't know their final destination.
During their journey, Basil, Matthias, and Jess join with Orlando the Axe, the father of Auma, and Jabez Stump, the father of a young hedgehog named Jube. Jabez, Orlando, and Jabez's daughters initially fight with one another, as the hedgehogs think that Orlando kidnapped Jube. They quickly realize that Slagar had captured their children. As the hunt continues, they team up with the Guerilla Union of Shrews in Mossflower who agree to assist them on their quest.
The Father Abbot of Redwall, Abbot Mordalfus, has a dream of Martin the Warrior, who speaks the mysterious words: "Where the Little Folk Go." In the morning, Redwallers start solving the riddle and eventually it leads them under the Abbey to an abandoned chamber where Abbess Germaine's grave is located. There, they find a green plate that contains Loamscript, which only John Churchmouse can translate. The message of the riddle is found on the roof of Redwall and it contains information which is important for the questors. The Redwallers send Queen Warbeak and her warriors to carry the message for Matthias, Jess, and Basil.
The slaves meet Jube, Jabez's son. Jube seems to be confident that his father will rescue him soon. As the slave gang travels onward, Mattimeo and his friends try to escape, but they fail and are recaptured again.
Meanwhile, back at Redwall, an army of rooks, crows, magpies, and ravens, led by the raven General Ironbeak, have taken the Abbey under siege, conquering it from the top down and killing all the sparrows who did not leave to assist Matthias. The Abbey dwellers seal themselves in the large dining room, Cavern Hole, and harass the birds by making them believe the Abbey is haunted by a ghost. As the siege drags on, a large, badly injured redkite, Stryk, flies to the Abbey, and Constance rescues the bird from the rooks. Eventually, Ironbeak manages to infiltrate Cavern Hole, but a healed Stryk attacks and kills him.
After a long journey climbing up cliffs, fighting a horde of archer rats, and crossing a desert, Matthias' crew finally arrives at the Kingdom of Malkariss, where Slagar has been trading his slaves and Vitch. There, the heroes fight the massive army of rats and Matthias challenges the infamous Wearet. During the duel, Matthias falls into the Abyss and accidentally meets Malkariss, the old and shriveled polecat. He's killed by the slaves with stones, and Matthias frees them, reuniting with his son. Having destroyed the kingdom, the now liberated army of slaves starts to leave the area when suddenly Slagar appears, striking Matthias in the head, then disappearing into a secret exit. Vitch has also survived the destruction of Malkariss, but Slagar kills him with his trusted weapon. Matthias and Orlando give chase and Slagar runs from them, but the fox falls into an old well and dies. The party returns triumphantly to the Abbey and there is peace once again in Mossflower.
Tim Churchmouse becomes the official recorder of Redwall. Mattimeo becomes Abbey Warrior and marries Tess Churchmouse. They have a son and call him Martin II after Martin the Warrior. Father Abbot declared the season Autumn of the Warriors' Return.
Awards[]
Winner:
- Western Australian Young Readers' Award
Nominated:
- Carnegie Medal (1989)
Reprint[]
The original publisher of the series, Hutchinson, issued a reprint of the original UK hardcover in 1994. This edition featured updated dust jacket copy that referred to the awards won by the novel, a £12.99 price, and a new Brian Jacques author biography and photo. It also listed the published Redwall books up to The Bellmaker internally. The ISBN stayed the same for both versions.
Adaptations[]
TV[]
Redwall was adapted into a three season TV series by Nelvana. Season two is based on Mattimeo.
Audiobooks[]
Mattimeo has been released on two different audiobooks.
Release details[]
- 1989, UK, Hutchinson Children's Books Ltd., ISBN 0091738989, Pub. Date: October 1989, Hardcover
- 1990, US, Philomel, ISBN 039921741X, Pub. Date: May 1990, Hardcover
- 1990, UK, Red Fox, ISBN 0099675404, Pub. Date: July 1990, Paperback
- 1994, UK, Legend, ISBN 0099319314, Pub. Date: 1994, Paperback
- 1998, US, Avon Books, ISBN 0380715309, Pub. Date: June 1998, Paperback
- 1999, US, Ace, ISBN 0441006108, Pub. Date: February 1999, Paperback
- 2003, US, Puffin, ISBN 0142302406, Pub. Date: March 2003, Paperback
- 2006, UK, Red Fox, ISBN 1862301409, Pub. Date: August 2006, Paperback
- 2006, US, Red Fox, ISBN 1862301409, Pub. Date: September 2006, Paperback
- 2010, US, Firebird Books, ISBN 9780142302408, Pub. Date: January 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 |