By Eric P. Kelly

“I swear on my honor as a Pole, as a servant of the King of the Polish people, that I will faithfully and unto the death, if there be need, sound upon the trumpet the Heynal in honor of Our Lady each hour in the tower of the church which bears Her Name.”

From the tower of Krakow’s Church of Our Lady Mary, a trumpet sounds each hour, in faithful fulfillment of this solemn oath. More than a timekeeper, the trumpeter is also a vigilant guardian, watching for enemies, riots, and fires—anything that might threaten the safety of the city.

In 1461, young Joseph Charnetski comes to Krakow with his father and mother. In their keeping is the Great Tarnov Crystal. Bogdan Grozny, a Tartar chieftain, is determined to seize this treasure for himself. Nor is he alone: a ruthless alchemist also seeks the stone, believing it to be the key to the secrets of life. 

Learning from his father the story and the skills of the trumpeter of Krakow, Joseph prepares for the moment when he might bear the sentinel’s duty. When that moment comes, Joseph must risk danger and even death to deliver his family and the city from the dark messengers of evil and the raging fires of destruction.

A story of excitement and mystery, handsomely decorated by Janina Domanska, Eric P. Kelly’s The Trumpeter of Krakow makes crystal clear the truth that where courage, honor, and sacrifice are found, there too is adventure.

Eric P. Kelly (1884–1960) was an American author and professor. After an early, discouraging career in journalism, he volunteered for Les Foyers du Soldat (Soldiers’ Homes) in World War I, in which service he came to know and love Poland and its peoples. His love and knowledge of the Polish are displayed powerfully in his Newbury Medal-winning The Trumpeter of Krakow (1928) as well as The Blacksmith of Vilno (1930) and The Golden Star of Halicz (1931)—all stories about Poland for young readers. 

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Hardcover: 240pp., illustrated with ribbon

ISBN: 978-1685953881

ALLTA Collection | Book Four