"The Chronicles of Prydain" is a five-novel children's fantasy series written by American author Lloyd Alexander. The series consists of "The Book of Three", "The Black Cauldron", "The Castle of Llyr", "Taran Wanderer", and "The High King". The first two books were (loosely) adapted into the 1985 Disney animated film "The Black Cauldron". In writing the series, Alexander was inspired by Welsh mythology and folklore. The protagonist of the series is Taran, a youth living on a farm who dreams of being a great hero. The novels follow Taran's journey, as he grows from a hot-tempered and impulsive boy into a knowledgeable and insightful adult. Taran's major companions are the enchantress Princess Eilonwy, the bard Fflewddur Fflam (a minor king who has left his kingdom), the wild beast-man Gurgi, and the dwarf Doli.
