Load of Unicorn

by Cynthia Harnett

Also published as The Cargo of the Madalena.Bendy, whose family runs a scrivener's shop in fifteenth-century London, solves the mystery when the master printer, William Caxton, fails to receive the paper shipped to him.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Historical, Medieval

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1959

Reviews

[Louise Culmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absorbing story about Bendy, a boy from a family of scriveners who is apprenticed to the printer William Caxton, much to the fury of his half brothers, who see printers as their deadly rivals, and are less than scrupulous in the lengths they will go to to sabotage the printer’s work. The book is full of fascinating details of 15th century life, and you can easily imagine yourself walking through medieval London or Westminster (separate places in those days) with Bendy. The book has many delightful illustrations by the author, which also help to bring Bendy’s world to life. Highly enjoyable.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic. This is juvenile historical fiction at its best. Harnett has done so much good research and has so many clever ways of tying things in. The plot is captivating, to say the least - it's a real page-turner, and the many facts that are presented never bog things down. We learn plenty about printing, London geography (and other locations as well), a bit about the church at the time (though not a lot of detail about services), plus political history and everyday stuff like food, school, etc. Reading this gives one a lot to think about with regard to how classic stories survived and were disseminated.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not many books are set in fifteenth-century London, but Cynthia Harnett manages to tell her story in a wholly unique and interesting fashion, blending history with fiction with a variety of illustrations maintaining interest, with an unprecedented result.

I had no difficulty or second thoughts in awarding Harnett five stars. She deserves all five of them. She does justice to the art of storytelling and the history, characters and places that inspired them. Bendy, so called after Benedictine, the protagonist of this book gets tangled up in matters far beyond his imagination. The reader can experience not just his ordeals but the London of his times trough his eyes. From William Caxton, far more than just England's first printer as this book attempts to prove, to the mysterious Tom Twist there is a combination of truth and fiction as, after all, it must have a plot.

As Harnett explains in her brilliantly written postscript, she explores all the challenges Caxton encountered when he began to print in England with a particular focus on Malory's Morte D' Arthur (which happen to have a significant part as regards to the plot). Make no mistake about it, Harnett has done her research. In fact, from what she has read about Caxton she has portrayed him as a hero not unlike the ones from the age of chivalry which he had lamented in his epilogues and prologues. She also explains to the utmost detail what is true to the historical sources or not, like for example that Caxton's daughter was based on a certain Elizabeth Caxton of Westminster who may not have been Caxton's actual daughter as there are no other sources.

In my opinion as well, the illustrations, which Harnett had personally drawn based on her research, are a fundamental aspect of the book. I doubt whether the book would have had the same effect without them as nobody is accustomed to the ways of fifteenth century Londoners. Also, the book contains a number of nice touches, like Hugh Clopton inviting Bendy to visit the house he was building in Stratford-upon-Avon on his way to claim Malory's script. The great house, 'alas no longer standing', a century later became the residence of none other than William Shakespeare himself!, as Harnett explains in her postscript.

All in all, an outstanding children's book that ought to secure the interest of older age groups. I am exited to read more books penned by such an outstanding writer.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enthralling adventure! This middle-grade/YA historical novel has been sitting on my shelves for ages, recommended to me years ago by a medieval British history instructor. Finally I thought, "Read it or get rid of it." I should not have waited so long! I inhaled it in one day. It's fast-paced, intelligent, and well-written, with deep research that's worn lightly. (The author's afterword, which explains what's real and what she invented, also is very interesting.) The author also illustrated the book--detailed, charming drawings that lend context. I will look for more of Harnett's works! And I think I'll keep this one.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Half the story is historical, and the author clarifies which parts those are. The morality was excellent, especially in that it shows how doing wrong really doesn't pay in the long run. Bendy is a very relatable character, the story is interesting and not too far-fetched, and the history fits well into the tale. As soon as I finished reading this I gave it to my 11-year-old brother with no hesitation.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, and the Wool Pack were very enjoyable reads as a boy of 11 or 12. I would highly recommend them to anyone else.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps written for a younger audience, I still found myself enjoying the author’s rather factual depiction of 15th century London and some of the first days of the printing press. Would hate to be a scrivener tho sounds like a trash job. 3.4/5

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mid C20th children's historical adventure, set at the time Caxton was establishing his printing press in London. Good level of historical detail, while at the same time has enough action and intrigue to interest modern children too - I wonder if historical fiction might have a longer shelf life, as it were, because there's less to date it.

[Dave Appleby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bendy, a scrivener's son in London, 1482, is apprenticed to the arch-enemy, William Caxton, the first printer in England. Bendy's brothers, seeking to produce cheap hand-written books and seeing their market threatened, conspire to buy up all the available paper (only made abroad). This plot intertwinces with the story of how Caxton produced the first edition of Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory.

It is a beautifully written book. I read it immediately after Harnett's masterpiece The Woolpack. Here are two reasons why I preferred the Woolpack:

It has a single plot focused on the supply of wool whereas The Load of Unicorn has two plots, as described above, and though they are dovetailed it does seem that the focus has been diffused.

The denouement by which the protagonist discovers the truth is by the clever working out of the clues, whereas in The Load of Unicorn it is by being captured by the baddies and then over-hearing them reveal their wickedness, which is a bit of a cop-out, especially that the hero's escape is so easy, so unlinked to the hero's special qualities, a sort of deus ex machina without the god and without the mechanism.

But it's a great yarn. And there is a lot of history, easily digested, contained within it.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The load of unicorn is the paper marked with a unicorn that William Caxton, England’s first printer, desperately needs to continue printing his books. How Bendy, a boy from a rival family of scriveners, still writing texts by hand, got involved in helping Caxton find his paper, and found a solution to his own problems as well - is the story of this book.

As with her previous book The Wool Pack, Cynthia Harnett turns to a subject that does not often feature in children’s historical fiction - trade and industrial innovation, as opposed to the struggles of the underclass or major events. I found the first part of the book dragged somewhat - Bendy, sulky and ready to use his fists, is similar to Nicholas of the Wool Pack, but just not as likeable a character, and his various enemies are all given every kind of meanness. The second half is a different book entirely as Bendy goes on a mission to find a lost manuscript through a countryside that can be dangerous to strangers, and both emotionally and in pace and action the whole story cranks up several gears.

[Barbara Sydow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this. A friend lent it to me because she knows I enjoy little boy adventure novels. I didn't realize I'd ALSO get the early printing industry in 15th-century London AND Malory's Morte D' Arthur. It tickled my nerdy little heart. The story is absorbing and there are plenty of hijinks to keep things interesting. Come for the history and stay for the action: Robbers! Pirates! A missing manuscript! Winning stuff in dice game behind a sketchy bar! Harnett also includes a super interesting postscript where she explains what is historically true in the book and what she embellished/invented herself which is just delightful and I'm not sure I've ever seen before in another book. Highly recommend, my friend is actually letting me keep it for when my 5-year-old is big enjoy it.

[Chimene Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harnett never fails to impress with how much historical info she can cram into a children’s story, and how effortless she makes it all seem. This book is about the transition from manuscript to print in 15th c. England – William Caxton is a main character! The plot twist about Thomas Mallory’s manuscript of Arthurian tales was also fascinating. I didn’t know that Mallory was such a dodgy character, or that his compilation of Arthurian fantasy became one of the first books ever printed in England. I’ve never read Le Morte d’Arthur … maybe I should one day.

[Jenni Enzor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what historical fiction should be! I loved the detailed descriptions and illustrations of items from the time. I liked how Bendy--and all the other characters--acted like people from their time. The conflict centered on the rivalry between the scriveners (Bendy's older brothers) and the new printing press in England, which was rich and fascinating. I also learned so much about Le Morte D'Arthur and its author.
Highly recommended!

More on my blog: https://jennienzor.blogspot.com/2025/...

[Su · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had all the things I love: mystery, history, a story about a book lover, excellent transitional phrasing and pace. A pleasant surprise! Don't judge it by the cover! The only "warning" I'd note and prepare to discuss with kids = the term wench.

[Rosy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still looking for a novel I loved as a child. I don’t think this is the one, but it is typical of the library books I enjoyed so much as a child and it’s quite possible l read this one. Maybe I’ll keep looking.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of my favourite books!

[DocNora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and memorable book! Loved it so much. Immersive and atmospheric with author 's own illustrations.

[Sav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sneaky way of putting unicorn

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable tale of the start of the printing press. Comprehensively researched and wonderfully illustrated, it was a delight to read.

[Erika]

DNF23%
I just couldn’t get in to it.
But I’ll finish it someday.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent