The Golden Goblet

Author:

Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Illustrator:

Published by:

Puffin

First Published:

1 Jan 1961

Ideal for readers aged

9-12y

My Review

I listened to an audio version of this and, although I normally struggle to stick with Audiobooks, this one really kept me listening. I really love Ronefer, the main character in the story. He is gentle and honest and determined to act with integrity despite being surrounded by corruption and victim to his half brother's abuse and brutality. There is so much to learn from him about trust, building friendships, and sharing problems when they are too big to tackle alone. His bravery is rewarded in the end by a meeting with Pharaoh herself!

Eloise Jarvis McGraw is an exceptional writer - apparently she never visited Egypt herself, but the colours, sounds, and smells of Ancient Thebes are brought vividly to life by in her storytelling. I really loved it!

Heads Up!

The author's attempt at giving an antiquated feel to the language of Ronefer and his friends means that certain words might grate: 'yes' is always 'ay', 'no', 'nay, and 'over there', 'yonder'. I got used to this but this is a warning just in case this puts you off! The book was first published in 1962 and this, perhaps, is a reflection of its age - in all other ways it has aged extremely well and it's a shame that the cover is a little dated as this book is vastly superior in historical accuracy to the wealth of books about Ancient Egypt full of curses and magic!

Repeated mention is made in the story of Ronefer's fear of kefts, mythical malevolent dark beings with wings who he has been told haunt the streets after dark. A couple of times in the story, he flees from something he believes to be a keft, but, both times, he realises afterwards that his encounters where with animals.

Mention is also made of Ronefer's belief, common in Ancient Egypt, that the spirits of the dead can leave their bodies in benign form and bring good to those they have left behind.

Publisher Review

Winner of a Newbery Honor, an exciting ancient Egyptian mystery! Ranofer wants only one thing in the world: to be a master goldsmith like his beloved father was. But how can he when he is all but imprisoned by his evil half brother, Gebu? Ranofer knows the only way he can escape Gebu's abuse is by changing his destiny. But can a poor boy with no skills survive on the cutthroat streets of ancient Thebes? Then Ranofer finds a priceless golden goblet in Gebu's room and he knows his luck-and his destiny-are about to change. "Exceptionally vivid, swiftpaced, and stirring."--The Horn Book "An exhilarating story of the arduous fulfillment of a boy's dream . . . We are given a most worthy hero in Ranofer, one who struggles with his own fears and ideals, who smarts under his own cowardice, but who finds the power to rise to his own strength. This plus the vividly detailed setting make the book an excellent choice."--Kirkus Reviews