Ghost Knight
Ghost Knight is a novel written by the German author Cornelia Funke. It was first published under the German title "Geister Ritter".[1] It was translated by Oliver Latsch from German to English and published in 2012.[2]
Plot
The novel (written in first person) starts with Jon Whitcroft, one of the protagonists, reaching the train station. He is tearfully bid by his mother, and his mother's boyfriend gives him an encouraging pat, for which he "nearly shoved him onto the tracks". Jon describes his hatred for his mother's boyfriend, whom he calls "The Beard". He explained his countless attempts to get rid of The Beard, but in vain.
While on train for his boarding school to Salisbury, he spent his time cutting and gluing notes from newspapers, in order to frighten The Beard, but disposed them in the end, knowing his mother would favor The Beard even more than ever.
When he reaches Salisbury, he is greeted by his house wardens, Edward and Alma Popplewell. They took him to the boarding house, where they put him in a three-bed room. He meets his roommates, Angus Mulroney and Stuart Crenshaw, better known throughout the novel as Angus and Stu. The next day, he goes to his new school, which he finds, quite to his disappointment, alright.
On his sixth night, his troubles began. Jon tries to sleep, but suddenly hears the snorting of horses. He went over to the window, wondering what it might be. Then he saw three riders on horses- all transparent, with dark bruises, and burned out eye holes. He was stumbled upon by Stu. By the time Jon looked out of his window again, the ghosts were gone.
The next evening, while all the students were being taken back to the boarding house by their history teacher Mr. Rifkin, also known as Bonapart, the ghosts reappeared, only one more along that time. They chase Jon, who runs in fear. At last, when he could run no more, he fell down. The ghosts left him, warning they would return for him, calling him "Hartgill".
Characters
Jon Whitcroft- The main protagonist. He is the son of Margaret Whitcroft (née Hartgill). His father died when he was four. He is sent to a boarding school, which his late father had attended. Jon initially hates his mother's boyfriend, while his two unnamed sisters and their dog Larry like The Beard. He is best friends with Ella, and is Longespee's squire.
Ella Littlejohn- Jon's best friend. She lives with her grandmother, and is well versed about ghosts. She guides Jon in the novel and helps him solve his problems. She is named after Ella Wigram.
William Longespee- The ghost knight. He aids Jon in defeating Lord Stourton's ghost. He brands Jon with a lion's crest, letting the boy call him any time. He makes Jon his squire.
Lord Stourton- The main antagonist. He haunts Jon because he is the descendant of the Hartgill's. Stourton is finally sent to hell after the combined forces of Jon and Longespee defeat him.
Zelda Littlejohn- Ella's grandmother. She is described to look very ancient, like an owl. She is a believer of ghosts, and has met them also. She takes care of Ella when her parents are away, and is shown to care for her when she is kidnapped by Lord Stourton's minions.
Matthew Littlejohn- Zelda's son, Ella's uncle and The Beard. He is a dentist, who keeps a beard for hiding a scar, which he shaves in the end. He is warm and friendly with Jon, who initially doesn't return the feelings. It is Jon who convinces his uncertain mother to marry Matthew, showing that the frostiness between them had melted to an extent. He helps Jon and Zelda rescue Ella from Lord Stourton's servants, and aides the children further while they retrieve Longespee's heart.
Margaret Whitcroft (née Hartgill)- Jon's mother. She falls in love with The Beard, much to the disgust of her son. She is a very caring mother, and also loves Jon a lot. She is convinced by Jon in the end to marry The Beard when she is skeptical.
References
- ↑ "Geisterritter". Goodreads. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ↑ Bradman, Tony (23 November 2012). "Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2016.