Count Karlstein - The Novel

By: Philip Pullman

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Hardcover | 15 November 2002

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No one in the village of Karlstein dares to leave their homes on All Souls' Eve - the night Zamiel the Demon Huntsman comes to claim his prey. But the evil Count Karlstein has struck a terrible bargain with Zamiel, and so the lives of his two young nieces, Lucy and Charlotte, are in danger. Their only hope lies with Hildi, a castle maidservant, and her fearless brother Peter. Can they save the girls from their dreadful fate? Only one thing is certain - the Demon Huntsman will not return to his dark wood unsatisfied! A deliciously terrifying and wickedly funny Gothic tale, Count Karlstein is the first-ever children's book by Philip Pullman, winner of the Whitbread Award, the Carnegie Medal, the Guardian Fiction Award and two Smarties Awards. Originally published in 1982, this new edition of Count Karlstein is a treat no Pullman fan should miss.

Industry Reviews

This gothic horror-cum-slapstick tale is award-winning novelist Pullman's first work for children, originally adapted from a play Pullman wrote for the school he was teaching at. It's a Transylvanian spoof story with a hectic pace, lots of suspense and just the right amount of scary moments. The grim Count Karlstein has made an evil bargain to hand over his orphan nieces Charlotte and Lucy to the terrifying Demon Huntsman. Hildi, the maid, overhears the dastardly plan and decides to help the girls. The only danger is on the night of All Souls, when the Huntsman rides through the forest seeking his prey. It should be simple enough for the girls to hide from the demonic Prince of the Mountains for just one night and return home the next day safe and sound. So with Hildi's help they run away, thinking their escape will be easy. But the Demon Huntsman has a lust for the new delicacy of human flesh and no intention of going away empty-handed. Teetering on the edge of horror, playing with the terror of the Transylvanian myths, the novel provides plenty of suspense for its readers. The slightly archaic language adds to the Gothic atmosphere, and the result is a splendidly spooky entertainment that clearly points the way to Pullman's later triumphs. Ages 9-12 (Kirkus UK)

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