Written by James Thurber. Illustrated by Marc Simont. First edition, 1957. Simon and Schuster, New York.
"Somewhere a ponderous tower clock slowly dropped a dozen strokes into the gloom. Storm clouds rode low along the horizon, and no moon shone. Only a melancholy chorus of frogs broke the soundlessness. Then a strange figure appeared out of the nocturnal somnolence, as unexpectedly as the blare of a bugle in a lullaby. He entered the tavern near the sea, and a blade of light flashed into the blackness and disappeared when the old oaken door closed once more."
The newcomer was a seafaring man, and the sight of him turned the taverners silent. ..."
"The Man with the map and the man with the ship
sailed for the island rich with sapphires, emeralds, and rubies.
Their vessel was called Aeiu, which has every vowel but O.
The owner hated O because his mother had become wedged
in a porthole and they couldn't pull her in, so they had to push her out.
The island, Ooroo, was inhabited by gentle people who did not resist when the pirates,
unable to find any jewels, decided to get rid of all words with an O in them. Cnfuson reigned..."
But the islanders held tight to four words that must not be lost: Hope, love, and valor. The fourth word is the point of the story.
James Thurber (1894 - 1961), an American author, humorist, playwright, and cartoonist, was one of the more influential literary figures of the 20th century, remembered most as a humorist. In addition to The White Deer, his other books for children are Many Moons (condensed as The Princess Who Wanted the Moon), The Great Quillow, The 13 Clocks, and The Wonderful O.
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Condition: Very Good/Very Good. Dust jacket: Lower corner bumped on the back; moderate wear along upper and lower edges; bumped at head of the spine; very small closed tear, on the front; pinpoint hole on front fore edge; light rubbing along front edge of spine and fore edge; small scuff on the back; small moisture stains on the back, lower fore edge. Owner's name in top right corner on front fly leaf. Pages are clean, undamaged, and complete.
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