Annuvin is the land of death.Īccording to Alexander’s lore, Prydain was once ruled by an evil queen called Achren. The books take place in Prydain, a magical land that has been in a state of conflict against their neighbor, Annuvin for a long time. Though, Alexander has disputed claims that his work is a retelling of Welsh myths. So it came as no surprise when the author embarked on a journey to write the Chronicles of Prydain, a series of books that are heavily inspired by Welsh Mythology.

Not only did he fall in love with Wales with its landscapes and castles and culture but he felt drawn to Welsh myths and legends. The author had already nurtured a love for mythology. Lloyd Alexander got his combat training in Wales during the Second World War. Many a child of the 60s and 70s and even the 80s who found the Lord of the Rings too complex and couldn’t get into the Chronicles of Narnia found solace in these books which follow the popular trope of a young relatively innocent protagonist that must face off against an evil lord, save the Kingdom, and win the heart of a princess. The series has been described as Lord of the Rings for children. The Chronicles of Prydain series began publication in 1964 and ended in 1968, with Alexander publishing one book every year. The books follow the exploits of a young man who gets his chance to be a glorious hero when an evil Lord and his army of the undead threaten to overrun the land. The Chronicles of Prydain is a series of fantasy novels that were written by Lloyd Alexander.

The chronicles of prydain hardcover