Otto of the Silver Hand

Otto of the Silver Hand
1967 Dover Edition Cover
Author(s)	Howard Pyle
Illustrator	Howard Pyle
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Children's novel
Publisher	Charles Scribner's Sons
Publication date	1888
Media type	Print
ISBN	0-486-21784-1
OCLC Number	970079

Otto of the Silver Hand is a children's novel about the Dark Ages written and illustrated by Howard Pyle. It was first published in 1888 by Charles Scribner's Sons. The novel was one of the first written for young readers that went beyond the chivalric ideals of the time period, and showed how cruel the time period could really be.^[1]

Plot summary

The book centers around the life of Otto, the son of a German warlord. His mother dies when she sees her husband hurt, prompting his father to take his newborn son to a nearby monastery to be raised. When Otto reaches eleven his father returns to claim him from the monastery and take him back to live in their ancestral castle. It is then that Otto learns of and is horrified by his father's former life as a thief and robber, particularly how his father killed a defenseless enemy, Baron Frederick, in retaliation for Baron Frederick helping some merchants who Otto's father was trying to rob.

Not long after Otto learns of his father's past his father is summoned to the Imperial Court, and leaves, taking the vast majority of the castle inhabitants with him. Late Baron Frederick's nephew, Baron Henry, then attacks the castle, burning it to the ground and taking Otto captive and mutilating him by cutting off his hand in retaliation for Baron Frederick's death. While Otto is being held prisoner he falls in love with Baron Henry's daughter, Pauline.

Otto's father then returns and rescues Otto with the help of the few loyal followers still left him. Barron Henry gives chase and Otto's father chooses to sacrifice his life so that his son can escape. Otto flees to the monastery where he grew up, and is given refuge there. After that he goes and petitions the emperor for justice. The emperor has favor on Otto, and Otto goes on to become one of the emperor's most trusted advisers.

Characters

• Otto - The son of a German warlord whose mother dies soon after giving birth to him. He is raised in a monastery until he is thirteen, at which point he returns to live with his father in their ancestral castle.
• Baron Conrad - The father of Otto; he is a German warlord who frequently robs merchants and caravans passing near his domain. He lives in his ancestral castle, Castle Drachenhausen.
• Baroness Matilda - Otto's mother, she dies after giving birth to Otto. Before dying she asks Baron Conrad to stop attacking the townspeople and instead earn an honest living.
• Abbot Otto - The Abbot of the monastery where Otto grows up.
• Brother John - A monk at the monastery who befriends Otto; he is somewhat dimwitted.
• Baron Frederick - A rival Baron who lives near Baron Conrad. Baron Frederick is the one who wounds Baron Conrad and indirectly causes Baroness Matilda's death. Baron Frederick is killed by Baron Conrad in an act of revenge.
• Baron Henry - The nephew of Baron Frederick; he captures Otto and cuts of his right hand in retaliation for Baron Frederick's death.
• Pauline - The daughter of Baron Henry; she and Otto fall in love.
• Emperor Rudolph - The German emperor at the time; he gives refuge to Otto.

Reception

After its release the New York Times gave the book's illustrations a mixed review:^[2]

The illustrations made by Mr. Howard Pyle for his medieval tale "Otto of the Silver Hand," are of varied merit, sometimes alive with action, at others dull and even badly drawn and composed... Mr. Pyle gets something of the rudeness of ancient woodcuts into his work, though perhaps the rugged note is exaggerated. The volume is one of the prettiest issued by Charles Scribner's Sons for the holidays, the cover emblazoned with the shield bearing a hand argent on guies.

References

1. ^ "Otto of the Silver Hand Study Guide". http://www.bookrags.com/shortguide-otto-of-the-silver-hand/overview.html. Retrieved April 21, 2010. 
2. ^ "Art Notes". New York Times. December 9, 1888. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F07E4DA1330E633A2575AC0A9649D94699FD7CF. Retrieved May 12, 2009.