Pageants of Despair - Hardcover

Hamley, Dennis

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0875992056 ISBN 13: 9780875992051

Publisher: S G Phillips, 1974

Synopsis

A twentieth-century boy dreams that he is acting in a strangely realistic medieval mystery play

About this title

Review:

Praise for Dennis Hamley and "Pageants of Despair"

"The history is fascinatingHamley has hit on the right road back to such lace-edged, antique virtues as honesty, gentleness, vision, and love.""Best Sellers"

"The ancient tussle between God and the Devil seems to lie at the heart of this tale of sinister skullduggery in the Middle Ages. A good deal of background information on the Mystery Plays and extracts from some of the performances crystallise the setting; the atmosphere of religious superstition and its hold over simple folk are captured with a grim reality and a sense of lurking foreboding. [Readers who]allow the tensions of time and mystery to work will share a strange experience in an unfamiliar world.""The Junior Bookshelf"

"Hamley does create a lively picture of how the audiences and actors must have responded to the powerful messages of the miracle plays.""Kirkus Reviews"

"The pageants are a frightening battlegroundreplete with medieval images of corporeal and spiritual corruptionfrom which Peter and his friends emerge triumphant.""Booklist""

Praise for Dennis Hamley and Pageants of Despair

"The history is fascinating...Hamley has hit on the right road back to such lace-edged, antique virtues as honesty, gentleness, vision, and love."--Best Sellers

"The ancient tussle between God and the Devil seems to lie at the heart of this tale of sinister skullduggery in the Middle Ages. A good deal of background information on the Mystery Plays and extracts from some of the performances crystallise the setting; the atmosphere of religious superstition and its hold over simple folk are captured with a grim reality and a sense of lurking foreboding. [Readers who]...allow the tensions of time and mystery to work will share a strange experience in an unfamiliar world."--The Junior Bookshelf

"Hamley does create a lively picture of how the audiences and actors must have responded to the powerful messages of the miracle plays."--Kirkus Reviews

"The pageants are a frightening battleground--replete with medieval images of corporeal and spiritual corruption--from which Peter and his friends emerge triumphant."--Booklist

Synopsis:

This work is intended for ages 12+. A strange encounter on a train transports young Peter back to the Middle Ages to take part in a mystery play where the actors become the characters they portray. Peter believes he has been brought there to counter an unearthly, menacing influence, but a succession of terrifying experiences leads him to suspect that he might be destined to cause the disaster he is trying to avert. He needs courage to face the crisis and intelligence to solve the mystery. Dennis Hamley - author of over 50 books - tells a rousing tale; his knowledge of medieval drama gives an extraordinary power to "Pageants of Despair".

About this edition

• Publisher: S G Phillips
• Publication date: 1974
• ISBN 10: 0875992056
• ISBN 13: 9780875992051
• Binding: Hardcover