Kurt Baumann

A peace-loving prince who likes to sit and listen to the birds, and a resolute peasant with some ideas as to how the kingdom's never-ending war might be concluded at last, switch places in this original tale from Swiss children's author, Kurt Baumann. As the peasant takes command of the armies and the country, the prince withdraws to a lonely mountain retreat. But their paths are fated to cross again, as the new ruler comes to rely on the hermit-prince for wise council. Eventually, having created both peace and prosperity, the peasant-king lays one final puzzle before his old friend: how can he make their people happy...?

Although I can't say that I found Baumann's narrative, with its echoes of The Prince and the Pauper, particularly compelling, I did like the fact that he highlighted the reality that the tasks for which we are fit have little to do with family background or inherited social standing. The peasant is clearly meant to be a military leader, the prince a musician and mystic. I think the chief pleasure of The Prince and the Lute however, was in looking at Jean Claverie's lovely illustrations, which convey a real sense of depth and mystery. Long out-of-print, and difficult to come by, I'm not sure this is a title people need to go out of their way to obtain, but if they should happen upon it, it has definite (though modest) charm.… (meer)