The Black Cauldron

The Black Cauldron (1965) is a high fantasy novel by American writer Lloyd Alexander, the second of five volumes in The Chronicles of Prydain. The story continues the adventures of Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, as he joins in a quest to capture the eponymous Magical Cauldron from Arawn Death-Lord. It was a Newbery Honor book in 1966, runner-up for the year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children". The book provided a title and many plot elements for the 1985 Disney animated feature The Black Cauldron. Origins The series was inspired by Welsh mythology and by the castles, scenery, and language of Wales, which the author experienced during World War II combat intelligence training. At one stage of planning, it was a trilogy with titles The Battle of the Trees, The Lion with the Steady Hand, and Little Gwion.