The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly
**Overview of "The Trumpeter of Krakow" by Eric P. Kelly**
"The Trumpeter of Krakow" is a historical fiction novel set in fifteenth-century Poland, centered around a legend from the 1200s involving a trumpeter who is struck down while playing a hymn from a cathedral steeple during a Tartar invasion. The narrative follows the Charnetski family—Andrew, his wife, and their son Joseph—who flee the invasion with a valuable artifact, the Great Tarnov Crystal, hidden among their belongings. The story unfolds through Joseph’s perspective as they navigate the dangers posed by the Tartars and seek refuge in Krakow, encountering various characters, including an alchemist and a young woman named Elzbietka.
As the family faces multiple threats, Joseph learns the importance of the "Heynal" hymn, which ends on a broken note due to the legend. The novel intertwines themes of courage, loyalty, and the interplay between religion and politics, emphasizing the Catholic church’s role in the community. Notably, the work combines authentic Polish legend with a richly detailed historical backdrop, making it a significant contribution to children's literature. Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1929, "The Trumpeter of Krakow" remains a classic exploration of Polish heritage, appealing to readers interested in medieval history and folklore.
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Subject Terms
The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly
First published: 1928; illustrated
Type of work: Historical fiction
Themes: Politics and law, religion, and family
Time of work: The mid-fifteenth century
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: Krakow, Poland
Principal Characters:
Andrew Charnetski , whose family has guarded the Great Tarnov Crystal for centuriesJoseph Charnetski , the son of Andrew, a naive country boy who finds Krakow dangerousPeter of the Button Face , orBogdan the Terrible , a cunning Tartar who disguises himself as Stephan OstrovskiJan Kanty , a compassionate priest and scholar who helps the Charnetskis survive in KrakowNicholas Kreutz , a scholar and alchemistElzbietka Kreutz , his niece, who becomes Joseph’s close friendJohann Tring , an evil student of KreutzKing Jagiello , the ruler of the Polish kingdom
The Story
A Krakow legend from the 1200’s tells of the Tartar invasion, in which a young trumpeter is struck down by an arrow when he sounds an ancient hymn, the “Heynal,” from the cathedral steeple but is killed before finishing the tune. His martyrdom is revered by trumpeters who, since that event, end the hymn on a broken note.
The legend provides the backdrop for a dramatic plot set in fifteenth century Krakow. Accompanied by his wife and his son, Joseph, Andrew Charnetski flees the Tartar attack on his country home with the Great Tarnov Crystal hidden in a pumpkin on the cart behind him. They are stopped by Peter of the Button Face, masquerading as Stephan Ostrovski, a fellow Pole. Eluding the Tartar, the Charnetksi family head to Krakow.
Told primarily from fifteen-year-old Joseph’s point of view, the story winds its way through medieval Krakow, carrying the reader along through street scenes, customs, and religious rituals of the time. Andrew attempts to deliver the crystal to the king, but the king is not in residence. The family seeks asylum with a cousin but finds that the cousin has been murdered. Joseph finds an apartment in a building shared by Nicholas Kreutz, an alchemist, and Elzbietka, his niece. Andrew is hired by Jan Kanty to play the “Heynal” from the cathedral. Joseph also learns to play trumpet for the night watch and becomes close friends with Elzbietka.
While Andrew is away on watch, a group of Tartars, led by Peter of the Button Face, sneaks into the Charnetskis’ lodging to steal the crystal. Above them, Kreutz suspects an evil happening. He explodes powders and creates startling fireballs to frighten Peter and his men. Peter escapes without the crystal.
Peter believes that the Charnetskis still possess the crystal. Raiding the church, he subdues Joseph and his father in the steeple. Knowing the custom of the watch, Peter permits Joseph to play the hymn as usual, but, cleverly breaking tradition, Joseph finishes the tune. Aware that Joseph is playing the hymn differently, Elzbietka finds Jan Kanty, who summons rescuers for Joseph and his father. Peter again escapes, and the crystal is still missing.
Two weeks later in his loft, Kreutz is hypnotized by the evil Tring, and he reveals to Tring that he has the crystal. Under Tring’s influence, Kreutz causes a terrible explosion that eventually sets the wooden section of Krakow on fire. Both Kreutz and Tring leave, with Kreutz hiding the crystal under his robe.
Peter of the Button Face is captured during the fire. Jan Kanty finds the dazed Kreutz with the crystal and takes him to the Charnetskis, who then gain an audience with the king. Now the captured Peter admits that he is Bogdan the Terrible and, in exchange for his life, tells of the plot to cause chaos in the Polish Ukraine in return for possession of the Great Tarnov Crystal. He is banished forever, while Andrew and his family are rewarded for their faithfulness.
The king turns to look deeply into the crystal, succumbing to its magic, but Kreutz grabs the crystal and, racing outside, throws it into the Vistula River. Aware of the misery and destruction that it has caused, King Jagiello leaves the crystal in the riverbed.
Context
As the first historical fiction about medieval Poland written in English, The Trumpeter of Krakow is a significant work. Best known of Eric P. Kelly’s books for children and winner of the Newbery Medal in 1929, it presents a well-crafted plot in an episodic narrative structure.
Like Howard Pyle’s Otto of the Silver Hand (1888), The Trumpeter of Krakow engages a young hero and his family in adventures in medieval times. In this novel of plot (rather than character), the wealth of detail of fifteenth century Krakow enriches the narrative description that surrounds the action of the characters.
In placing the Catholic church at the center of the busy Krakow city life, Kelly’s story is similar to Victor Hugo’s novel Notre-Dame de Paris (1831; The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1833), in which the church is recognized as center of the political and social world of Paris. In The Trumpeter of Krakow, the symbolic nature of the Catholic church as center of the spiritual world as well as of the physical kingdom of the Polish people brings together themes of religion and politics.
Kelly melds the legend of the trumpeter and Polish history, creating a richly descriptive narrative that incorporates authentic Polish legend and accurate historic setting, thus offering the young reader a classic work of historical fiction.