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cimorene1558's review
5.0
I loved this book as a child, and was so happy to rediscover it now I've committed myself to doing a program on Poland! It's a good story, and gorgeous illustrations, and I hope the Polish Embassy won't protest at having it be part of our workshop!
cherry_24's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wonderful illustrations with light-hearted story. Each illustrative page is very detailed and colourful. Krystyna Turska’s depiction of Cracow is beautiful. Feels like being transported back to 16th-century Poland. The Magician of Cracow is inspired by the tale of Pan Twardowski (Pan means Sir, it is a Polish honorific reserved for the Polish szlachta) who made a deal with the devil, tried to trick the devil but ultimately failed as the devil turned the table and tricked him back. In this book, the Magician is able to avoid the devil’s capture but he’s trapped in the moon for the rest of his life.
The legend surrounding Pan Twardowski is varied and there are a few versions about how it happened but the formulae are always the same. Twardowski was an enlightened Polish nobleman who dabbled in magic, astronomy, and alchemy. His thirst for knowledge is great especially his wish to visit the moon. He scoured every book and conducted experiments but still, he was not able to find a way to get to the moon. Twardowski decided to make a deal with the devil. But, there’s a catch: the devil’s contract states that when Twardowski's wish is fulfilled, he must go to Rome to give up his soul for the devil as payment. Thinking that he’s smarter than the devil, Twardowski agrees with no intention of going to Rome at all.
Making a deal with the devil made Twardowski forget his wish and instead, he asks for a lot of different things from the devil such as fetching silvers all over Poland, riding a flying cockerel to travel the world (except Rome), jewels, magnificent clothes, and any kind of treasures. Some legends said that Twardowski also summoned the spirit of Barbara Radziwiłłówna—the beloved wife of King Zygmunt II August—with the help of the devil. All Twardowski’s demands exhausted the devil and with no sign of him honouring the pact, the devil devised a plan to trick the magician into visiting an inn called Rome.
The trick works and the devil snatched Twardowski up the sky, intending to take his soul to the devil’s realm. It was at this moment that Twardowski remembered his actual wish, to travel to the moon. He asked this one final wish of the devil and the latter was disappointed because devils were banished from all heavenly realms. From that day onwards, Twardowski lived on the moon, unable to leave his place for fear the devil would snatch him. A spider accompanied the magician and from time to time, the spider spins a thread to visit the earth below and bring news back to the magician.
Interesting and entertaining tale! This book is worth owning.
The legend surrounding Pan Twardowski is varied and there are a few versions about how it happened but the formulae are always the same. Twardowski was an enlightened Polish nobleman who dabbled in magic, astronomy, and alchemy. His thirst for knowledge is great especially his wish to visit the moon. He scoured every book and conducted experiments but still, he was not able to find a way to get to the moon. Twardowski decided to make a deal with the devil. But, there’s a catch: the devil’s contract states that when Twardowski's wish is fulfilled, he must go to Rome to give up his soul for the devil as payment. Thinking that he’s smarter than the devil, Twardowski agrees with no intention of going to Rome at all.
Making a deal with the devil made Twardowski forget his wish and instead, he asks for a lot of different things from the devil such as fetching silvers all over Poland, riding a flying cockerel to travel the world (except Rome), jewels, magnificent clothes, and any kind of treasures. Some legends said that Twardowski also summoned the spirit of Barbara Radziwiłłówna—the beloved wife of King Zygmunt II August—with the help of the devil. All Twardowski’s demands exhausted the devil and with no sign of him honouring the pact, the devil devised a plan to trick the magician into visiting an inn called Rome.
The trick works and the devil snatched Twardowski up the sky, intending to take his soul to the devil’s realm. It was at this moment that Twardowski remembered his actual wish, to travel to the moon. He asked this one final wish of the devil and the latter was disappointed because devils were banished from all heavenly realms. From that day onwards, Twardowski lived on the moon, unable to leave his place for fear the devil would snatch him. A spider accompanied the magician and from time to time, the spider spins a thread to visit the earth below and bring news back to the magician.
Interesting and entertaining tale! This book is worth owning.
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