The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White

First published: 1970

Subjects: Animals, family, friendship, love and romance, and nature

Type of work: Novel

Type of plot: Fantasy

Time of work: The 1970’s

Recommended Ages: 10-13

Locale: Billings and Red Rock Lake, Montana; Ontario, Canada; Boston; and Philadelphia

Principal Characters:

• Louis, a trumpeter swan without a voice
• Louis’ father, a swan who loves his son so much that he steals a trumpet to give Louis a “voice”
• Sam Beaver, an eleven-year-old boy who befriends Louis
• Serena, the beautiful swan whom Louis loves

Form and Content

The Trumpet of the Swan is an enchanting story about Louis, a trumpeter swan without a voice, and his plight to fit in with nature. At one point in time, Louis thought that “fate is cruel to me,” and not being able to speak led him to believe that he was “defective.” With his father’s help and his own creativity, however, Louis becomes a famous and happy swan.

Louis is born without a voice, a definite disadvantage for a trumpeter swan. He is befriended by Sam Beaver, an eleven-year-old boy, who is camping with his father. Sam tries to help Louis and takes him to school so that he can learn to read and write. Louis is a fast learner and spends the rest of his life with a slate and a piece of chalk around his neck. This works well when Louis wants to communicate with humans, but, unfortunately, swans do not know how to read. This situation becomes a problem for Louis when he falls in love with the disinterested Serena. Serena is used to her suitors saying “ko-hoh,” and Louis is not able say “I love you” in that manner.

Louis’ father decides to fly to Billings, Montana, to secure a trumpet for his son so that the horn can be Louis’ “voice.” Since he does not have any money to pay for the horn, he is forced to steal it from the music store and put his honor aside for the love of his child.

Louis learns to play the trumpet, but he is upset that the instrument has not been paid for. Again, with the help of Sam, Louis acquires a summer job at Camp KooKoosKoos in Ontario, where he is paid one hundred dollars to play his trumpet. During this experience, Louis saves the life of a camper and receives a medal. Louis leaves the camp to travel to Boston, where he has secured a job on a swan boat. He flies to this next adventure with not only a slate, a piece of chalk, and a trumpet around his neck but also a money bag and his medal.

Louis becomes famous as he plays his trumpet on the swan boat and is paid one hundred dollars a week. He is then asked to perform at a nightclub in Philadelphia where he is paid five hundred dollars a week. It is at Bird Lake in the Philadelphia Zoo where Louis is reunited with Serena, the love of his life. Using his trumpet, Louis plays the song, “Beautiful Dreamer, Wake Unto Me,” and, when he plays “Ko-hoh,” Serena responds with “Ko-hoh.” Each feels drawn to the other by a mysterious bond of affection, and they both know that never again will they be parted.

When the zoo officials attempt to pinion Serena, Louis once again requests Sam’s assistance. Sam then speaks with the administrator of the zoo, and an agreement is reached whereby Serena is allowed to leave the zoo with Louis. In turn, Serena and Louis agree to donate one of their cygnets to the zoo, as needed. The two swans return to Red Rock Lake to give Louis’ father the $4,691.65 that Louis has earned.

Louis’ father returns to Billings to pay the owner of the music store the money that he owed from stealing the trumpet, so that he can redeem his honor, but he is shot on his way into the music store. It is only a superficial wound, however, and he returns to his family with his honor intact.

Serena and Louis return each spring to the pond, nest, and have their young. They donate a cygnet to the zoo, as promised, and never forget about their adventures and friends, especially Sam Beaver.

Critical Context

E. B. White is the author of many books of prose and poetry that were written for adults. He also wrote three books specifically for children. White’s first book for a younger audience was Stuart Little (1945), the story of a tiny mouse who leaves home to find his true love, Margalo, a pretty wren. Through his many adventures in New York City, Stuart learns about both friendship and love. This book was followed by Charlotte’s Web (1952), the story of a little girl named Fern who cares deeply about a pig named Wilbur. Wilbur is also friends with a special spider named Charlotte. The three characters share many adventures, and, in the end, Charlotte is able to save Wilbur from his impending death in a creative fashion. Fern, Wilbur, and Charlotte, too, learn much about both friendship and love.

All three of White’s children’s books share many commonalities. Stuart Little has adventures in different locales, just as Louis spends time in Canada, Montana, Boston, and Philadelphia. The many relationships in Charlotte’s Web are not unlike the love between Louis and his father and Louis and Serena. The friendship between Stuart and Margalo in Stuart Little and the friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web parallels the relationship between Louis and Sam Beaver in The Trumpet of the Swan. The themes of all three books include friendship, loyalty, honesty, and love.

These three books are children’s fantasy at its best. To leave reality in the company of a tiny mouse, a spider who writes messages, and a swan who plays a trumpet is a delight for children of all ages.