The Book of Dust (La Belle Sauvage) Summary

PHILLIP PULLMAN

Sir Phillip Pullman is born on October 19, 1946. He is an English writer most famous for his fantasy trilogy "His Dark Material". Some of his other works are "The Good Man Jesus" and "The Scoundrel Christ" and "The Book of Dust". His first writing was "The Haunted Storm".

His Dark Material is a trilogy that includes "The Northern Lights" or "The Golden Compass", " The Subtle Knife", and "The Amber Spyglass".

The Book Dust is also a trilogy that includes "La Belle Sauvage", "The Secret Commonwealth", and yet to come.

 

INTRODUCTION

After reading The Amber Spyglass (third part of His Dark Material), I was so heartbroken about the unfinished love of Lyra and Will, that I decided to not dive into another love story. Anyways, I picked up myself and read the first part La Belle Sauvage, in the hope to find Lyra and will again but there was nothing that I hoped for.

Apart from my feelings, I enjoyed this a lot. Unlike His Dark Material, The Book of Dust is also a trilogy, And La Belle Sauvage is its first part. Whether you have read his dark material or not, you may go for this one.

                   

SUMMARY

Malcolm Polstead, an eleven years old boy lived three miles away from the centre of Oxford near the river Thames. On the other side, there was the Priory of Godstow, where gentle nuns went about their holy work and took care of Lyra. Malcolm parents ran an inn named The Trout where all kinds of people came for rest. Malcolm’s daemon name was Asta. As every oxford scholar passes through the door of The Trout, Malcolm and Asta overhear different kinds of gossip, routinely.

But one day someone (Dr Hannah) inquired about dust. She asked him if he could come to her house. So, when he visited there he told everything that she asked him and promised her to tell him everything if something unusual happens in the city. In other words, he was sort of doing the spying.

There were two groups "The Oakley Street" and "The Consistorial Court of Discipline". Dr Hannah was spying for "The Oakley Street". And Mrs Coulter was somehow related to "The Consistorial Court the Discipline". The CCD introduces itself as a follower of the Christian community and punishes those who do not follow its rule. They created a group in school and colleges asked students to join it. Malcolm was against this group, so he decided to not join it.

One day Lord Asriel came to The Trout and asked to meet Malcolm. He confessed to Malcolm that he wanted to meet Lyra and asked if he could take him to her. Malcolm agreed and took him to Lyra. They passed the river in La Belle Sauvage (boat). There he saw the comforts of Lyra in the arms of Lord Asriel. She did not cry and not utter anything. At the time of return, as someone was following Lord Asriel, Malcolm decided to give his boat to promised to return him so that he could return easily. And Lord Asriel also promised to return his boat after reaching his destination.

After several days, a Gyptian returned with his boat and informed him about a disastrous flood will be taking place in this city.

When the massive flood struck the city. He and his companion Alice saved Lyra, a six months old girl, and decided to take her to her father Lord Asriel. According to Malcolm, no one on the whole planet can be safe for her, not even her mother Mrs Coulter. The two groups "The Consistorial Court of Discipline" and "The Oakley Street" were also after them.

 

CONCLUSION

It’s the story of how Malcolm and his companion Alice along with their daemon in his boat La Belle Sauvage save Lyra from different enemies. There’s a lot of fun and adventure. If you know Phillip Pullman, you must be aware of his writing, and how he makes his spectators dive into another world.

I just hope, someday he completes the story of Lyra and will.

 

 

Q.1 What was the first book of Phillip Pullman?

ANS. The Haunted Storm.

 

Q.2 What are some Children and Young adult stand-alone Books?

ANS. How to Be Cool, The Broken Bridge, I was a Rat! or The Scarlet Slippers, The Butterfly Tattoo, and The Scarecrow and his Servant.

 

Q.3 What is the genre of His Dark Material?

ANS. His Dark Material is a Fantasy and a work of magical realism.

Q.4 What is the genre of The Dark Material

ANS. The Dark Material is a work of Fantasy Fiction.