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My two favorite medieval historical fiction novels were both written and illustrated by Howard Pyle: Men of Iron and Otto of the Silver Hand. Howard Pyle (1853-1911) was a famous illustrator who went on to become a well-known author, always illustrating his own books. His treatments of the Robin Hood and King Arthur legends are probably what he is most famous for but I like his original stories far better. Howard Pyle, a native of Delaware, influenced book illustration far beyond his own work, since he taught many young men and women who became famous in their own right, including N.C. Wyeth and Jessie Willcox Smith.
I first read Otto of the Silver Hand when I was a father with young children. It is set in medieval Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, which was a setting that I was not used to, being more of an Anglophile myself. However, Pyle brings to life the time, place, and people in an accurate rendition of that era. Otto of the Silver Hand is a fascinating story of a hard, tough German robber knight, Baron Conrad, and his sweet wife, who presents him with Otto, his first-born, then dies in childbirth. Conrad gives the baby to the local Abbot, a relative through marriage, to raise. Otto grows up calm and kind like his mother but is later kidnapped by his father’s bitter enemy, Baron Henry, who burns Baron Conrad’s castle while he is away seeking justice from the Holy Roman Emperor. On his return, Baron Conrad manages to rescue Otto, who has been severely wounded by their enemy, and rides with him to safety. As a father of young children, the scene near the end when Baron Conrad gives his life to ensure that his son gets away safely always brought tears to my eyes. Otto of the Silver Hand is a wonderful book for anyone but can be read by middle school and older.
Other books by Pyle that I love are Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates, especially the original story of Blueskin the pirate, and the delightful original fairy tales in his The Wonder Clock. Both of these can be found in ebook form at Gutenberg.org and both books have been reprinted.