The Goldsmith and the Master Thief

This was a fascinating book about twin brothers Jacomo and Laurenzo. From their childhood towards adulthood, the troubles they cause and the trouble that finds them are told in these shortened tales, told almost as moral tales.
I adored the style of writing and found I couldn’t end the book until I had finished each tale.
It all begins with tricking their teacher so they each only have to attend school every other day. Although they miss each other terribly and end that capade by attending together. They want different things after school and the loss of their parents, so they split up, promising to meet exactly a year to the day.
However, trouble finds them and they both rescue the other at different times in their lives. Almost a comedy of errors, you can see what they must do and how they need to help. Funny at times, while others, more dangerous antics ensue.

A brilliant read and I could see being incredibly popular,

‘The Goldsmith and the Master Thief’ is a collection of stories, one following on from another, in which Jiacomo and Laurenzo, identical twins, one a skilled jewellery maker and one with questionable skills but no profession, capitalise on their striking similarity in their various adventures to create confusion and outrage as well as to solve mysteries and engineer daring escapes. The multiple cases of mistaken identity entail, among other fiascos, both brothers being crowned king of the same island, cunningly evading house arrest and incarceration in palace dungeons, and trying to avoid the inevitable confusion when they each fall in love. Throughout, run themes of loyalty , honesty, and what it is to have integrity even when faced with great temptation. The subject of two brothers, their love for one another, and their steadfastness despite the different courses they have chosen in life and the consequential differences in their standing in the community, is one not often tackled in childrens’ fiction, and therefore all the more worth the reading.
The translation, I found to be clunky in places – the mix of language and turn of phrase is mostly in keeping with the traditional folk genre to which the book belongs, but occasional inconsistencies and modern turns of phrase are glaringly out of place. Nevertheless, this is the sort of rare find seldom equalled in contemporary children’s fiction; simple stories, well executed, with clever denouements and twists of fate – extremely wholesome and enjoyable. I’m intrigued by Tonke Dragt’s other writing, also published by Pushkin in their bid to translate and bring to English-reading audiences children’s fiction from around the world, and will definitely be adding them to my list of books to be read!

A couple of years ago, when I turned the last page of Tonke Dragt’s The Letter for the King, I felt like I had travelled back in time. I felt I had mingled with knights on horses, visited medieval forts, and met quirky characters that made my head spin, along the way. I felt rejuvenated at the end of it.

That’s exactly how I feel now after reading The Goldsmith and the Master Thief. I was swept along, right from the beginning, on the many rip-roaring adventures that the twin brothers Laurenzo and Jiacomo get into.

Most of the 12 stories are anchored on mistaken identities and the situations that ensue because of how much the brothers resemble each other. But they have very different personalities – Laurenzo is the steady, practical, and sensible sort while Jiacomo is the restless thrill-seeker, always ready for something new – which they leverage to their benefit, working as a team.

Through it all there are strong themes of loyalty, honesty, and kinship that I saw in The Letter for the King, as well. But what I particularly liked in The Goldsmith and the Master Thief is a strong thread of conscience and a belief in fact vs fiction. Without giving away spoilers I can say the Eighth Tale of the Inn of Elvenghest is a prime example.

If there is any magic at all, it’s in Dragt’s writing, so wonderfully brought alive by Laura Watkinson’s skilful translation. It’s what makes this book such a delightful and arresting read not just for children but also for adults.

A big thank you to Pushkin Press for this ARC. I can’t wait to read more of Dragt!

Very interesting translation of a set of interwoven fairy tales. It's a pleasure to read and would be, I think, even better read out loud over the course of a series of story times or bedtime stories. I know I chose to read a chapter a night and very much enjoyed the experience!

Modern classic with a fairy/folk tale feel. Fantastic stories of twin brothers' adventures.

I just love this author, she manages to create authentically medieval/fantasy characters and settings for a modern audience and make you feel they could have been written and shared hundreds of years ago. The Letter for the King has never left me, and these episodic incidents are just as fairy-tale-like.

A tale told in parts, it's the life story of twins Laurenzo and Jiacomo, identical sons with mischief in their good-natured hearts. Close and loyal, their childhood capers become more serious as they are abruptly forced to make their own ways in the world. Though identical on the surface, the two brothers are very different young men, and choose different paths. But twins are never too far apart in stories such as these, and their love for each other, as well as their physical similarities, will play important roles in each other's escapades.

I got picked up by this, carried away in the fairy tale-ness of it all. Refreshing for these kinds of yarns these days, it's the male characters taking centre stage, not a Disney princess-type. A narrative of brothers helping each other, both honourable, though on different paths, one becomes apprentice to a goldsmith, the other inadvertently finds his mentor is a master thief. These skills will all find a place in their later lives.

It all ties together beautifully, as royals and castles and mysteries, beautiful women and villains all step onto the path ahead of the twins' life journeys. The brothers are more than archetypes, they move outside the usual prince/miller's son simple cliché, and I loved the many different familiar settings and stories that they find themselves part of.

I could have read much more of their lives, and would definitely recommend it to young readers who are confident by themselves. There's a sly sense of humour running through this, children will enjoy the sibling rivalries/devotion and all the obstacles they meet and have to overcome in this Middle Age-fantasy setting.

For ages 8-12, and anyone older who loves a good traditional story.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

This Dutch tale by Tonke Dragt, originally published in 1961, and translated by Laura Watkinson is pure delight from start to finish! The book is a series of adventures of identical twin brothers, Laurenzo and Jiacomo. A cross between a well-loved fairy tale and the merry adventures of Robin Hood, this pair manage to use their wits to escape every villain and misadventure that befalls them.

Each adventure is like a mini-book and will keep children entertained. Readers will wonder how the brothers can possibly land on their feet time and time again. And while one is hard-working and the other more footloose and fancy-free, the one thing that is true for both is their love and unwavering loyalty to one another.

When the last tale was told, I was sad that it had come to end but it was such a wonderful ending, one could hardly be sad. Each chapter was more exciting than the last and each came to the most satisfactory and clever end. I highly recommend this book either as a family read aloud (great book to take along on a car trip!) or a read alone for any age.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Goldsmoth and the Master Thief from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed are my own.

This is a charming book about two identical twins and the tales throughout their lives from boys to adulthood. Although identical, they are quite different people. One of the twins is quite serious and chooses a steady career whilst the other is a bit naughty and flighty. However, the brothers love each other dearly.

The stories are short enough for bedtime reading, and read a bit like fables, with a moral story to each one.

I thought this was a lovely book.

My thanks to Netgalley and Steerforth Press for the advance copy