Wayland

by Tony Mitton

John Lawrence (Illustrator)

Out of the lands in the chill, far north
come legends from long ago.
This is the story of Wayland Smith,
the strangest of all I know.

This beautifully told tale reinvents the northern legend of Wayland the blacksmith, whose craft and skill spread his fame far and wide. But Wayland's talents bring him nothing but pain. Following the loss of his swan-bride and his enslavement by a greedy king, Wayland has to rely on hope, courage and cunning to get by.

“I’ve read nothing so enthralling for a long time. Tony Mitton’s verse rings with the power and clarity of an ancient ballad, and is perfectly matched by the force and splendour of John Lawrence’s illustrations . . . I think it’s a marvellous piece of work, and I’m sure anyone who reads it will agree” Philip Pullman

• ISBN10: 085756014X
• ISBN13: 9780857560148
• Publish Date: 5 September 2013
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 8 February 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: David Fickling Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 64
• Language: English

Reviews

[Rinn]

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.

Just as the blurb says, this book is beautiful. The verse is stunning in itself, but combined with the gorgeous illustrations it really comes to life. For someone such as myself, who loves mythology and folklore, it would make a beautiful gift. I’d never heard the tale of Wayland before reading this – apparently it was brought to England by Vikings – and I hope that many others are exposed to the story through this book.

Honestly, the cover does not do the illustrations inside justice. John Lawrence is one of the leading wood-block engraving illustrators in the world and the exquisite illustrations within, which could tell a story all by themselves, reflect that.

Tony Mitton, who wrote the verse for the book, is an award-winning poet, and his words are the perfect combination with Lawrence’s artwork.

I would rate the book five out of five stars. Despite being short, it is wonderfully told and beautifully illustrated.