The Last Unicorn

The fantasy novel The Last Unicorn (Original title: The Last Unicorn ) by Peter S. Beagle was published in the U.S. by Viking Press, Penguin Books and Ballantine Books in New York and in the UK by The Bodley Head in London and Sydney, 1968.

Background

1962 Beagle began the first to write manuscripts for his fantasy novel. There were still significant differences from the later definitive published version. Thus, the action played in the " modern world " of the 20th century and began the conversation of the unicorn and a dragon. After about 85 finished pages he put this work aside, uncertain what should be it. Three years later he took again this story to, but rejected the idea with the dragon and covered the plot completely new. The resulting story was first published in 1968 and since then has appeared in many editions. In 2005, Peter S. Beagle, published in "The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction," a sequel to the novel called Two Hearts ( Two Hearts ). For this narrative Beagle was awarded the 2006 Hugo Award. In addition, the story was in its first version in 2006 under the name The last unicorn: edited the lost version.

Action

A unicorn is alive, as is usual for its type, retracted into a small forest. As this is roamed by two hunters, it accidentally discovers that all the other unicorns are vanished from the world and tell only legends and fairy tales of them. This idea gives him no peace, he decides to leave his home and to make the search for the others. It learns from a talking butterfly anything about the whereabouts of the other dogs and listens for the first time the Red Bull, which has rounded up the unicorns on behalf of King Haggard. In his quest, the unicorn is captured by the witch Mommy Fortuna, locked in a cage and exhibited in its Midnight Circus. Schmendrick, a seemingly untalented wizard, it detects as magical creature and helps him to escape.

On their way to King Haggard and the Red Bull they come into the camp of Captain Cully and his band of robbers, who live in a forest. Molly Grue, the companion Cullys, also recognizes the true nature of the unicorn and joins them. At last they reach the desolate kingdom King Haggard and the city Hagsgate. This city is a curse, which states: For Hagsgate a hero will come forth, overthrow the King Haggard and will destroy his kingdom and the city Hagsgate.

When they meet at the Red Bull and the Unicorn is severely threatened by this, there succeeds Schmendrick to use his magical powers and turn it into a beautiful young woman. For this, from now on referred to as the Lady Amalthea, the bull shows no more interest and allows them to move on. You get to King Haggard, who feel from the beginning, what is going on with the alleged Lady Amalthea up. Interested he therefore allows long to dwell in his castle the three of them for a time. His adopted son, Prince Lir, immediately falls in love with Lady Amalthea. This is increasingly losing their sight of the goal, the longer it is attached to a human body. Haggard warmly welcomes this development, and between Lir and Amalthea is a love relationship develops.

Schmendrick and Molly Grue, however, try the secret way to the Red Bull to find, but to free the unicorns still can. When they finally find them, they go with Lady Amalthea and Prince Lir there. The bull threatened them and Schmendrick manages finally, deliberately use his magic and Amalthea again to return the shape of a unicorn. Together with Prince Lir it drives the Red Bull now itself into the sea. Thus, the other unicorns are freed. King Haggard, its castle and the town Hagsgate be destroyed. Prince Lir is the new king, who proves to be wise and kind. The Lady Amalthea loss he must accept painful. Schmendrick and Molly Grue go henceforth common ways and always hold out in the hope the unicorn one day wiederzubegegnen.

Characters

Reception

• The novel was filmed in 1982 as a cartoon animation The Last Unicorn. The musical rendition by the U.S. composer Jimmy Webb, the rock band America and the London Symphony Orchestra also came out in 1982 as a soundtrack album The Last Unicorn.
• In 1988 there were at Intiman Playhouse in Seattle a stage version of the novel, to the Peter S. Beagle also wrote the screenplay. Produced by Elizabeth Huddle musical was performed in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Ballet. 2009, there was again a stage version, which was staged in Chicago from Promethean Theatre Ensemble and the director Edward Rutherford.
• The story is 2009 Audiobook, read by Andreas Fröhlich, published by The Hörverlag.