Third Quarter Book Review

Redwall is the first novel in an adventurous fantasy series by Brian Jacques. Set in Mossflower Wood in medieval times, this tale revolves around the peaceful mice of Redwall Abbey, who are unexpectedly attacked by a horde of horrible rats led by fearsome Cluny the Scourge. A courageous mouse named Matthias takes up the lost sword of Martin the Warrior and leads the fight against the enemy in an effort to win peace once more for the citizens of the Abbey.

Locus calls Redwall an “old-fashioned swashbuckling adventure”, while Booklist describes it as “Provocative and enticing. From start to finish, readers and listeners will cheer the dwellers of Redwall.”

Although the characters are animals in a woodland, the book is not simplistic or cartoonish. The plot is complex and the characters are believable, thanks to the many detailed descriptions that the author uses. The reader is caught by the very first sentence. “Matthias cut a comical little figure as he wobbled his way along the cloisters, with his large sandals flip-flopping and his tail peeping from beneath the baggy folds of an oversized novice’s habit.” (3) The sophisticated language and choice in details allow the author to create a whole new world, one with a unique hero and memorable villain.

Perhaps the reason Mr. Jacques excels at unusual details and building adventure is because he has led a very adventurous life himself. He was at different times a comedian, a sailor, a longshoreman, and a radio host. Through his gift of storytelling the characters change and grow. A humble mouse becomes a legend, and a powerful foe comes to an undignified, but much deserved end. Even the secondary characters like Mortimer the Abbot and Old Methuseleh are easy to imagine.

Likewise the action is dramatic and fast-moving, keeping the reader’s interest. It is easy to envision the society that the author has created. The author uses repetition to build suspense. “Cluny is coming,” he ends the first few chapters, so that the villain’s entrance has really been anticipated.

“Standing boldly on the backboard of the hay cart was the biggest, fiercest, most evil-looking rat that had ever slunk out of a nightmare! In one claw he grasped a long pole with a ferret’s head spiked to it, while in the other was his thick, enormous tail, which he cracked like a whip.” (19)

I was surprised by Redwall, as I did not believe that a story about mice could appeal to anyone over age 10. Yet this book was a really entertaining adventure with an interesting storyline and characters that I will remember. I have not read any other books by Mr. Jacques, but I do plan to look into the next few books in the series.