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Vesper Holly #3
The Drackenberg Adventure
Who could resist a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to the Grand Duchess of Drackenberg's Diamond Jubilee Celebration? Not Vesper Holly! Off she goes, with her guardian, Brinnie, and his wife, Mary, and plunges into a plot involving a takeover attempt from neighboring Carpatia.
In short order, Vesper finds herself mixed up with Gypsies, a kidnapping, and the discovery of a priceless Leonardo da Vinci portrait. Vesper has her hands full. Especially when the despicable Dr. Helvitius shows up. Will Vesper be able to save the day—and Drackenberg?
In short order, Vesper finds herself mixed up with Gypsies, a kidnapping, and the discovery of a priceless Leonardo da Vinci portrait. Vesper has her hands full. Especially when the despicable Dr. Helvitius shows up. Will Vesper be able to save the day—and Drackenberg?
152 pages, Hardcover
First published April 28, 1988
429 people want to read
About the author
Lloyd Alexander
134 books2,114 followersLloyd Chudley Alexander was an influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books. His most famous contribution to the field of children's literature is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. The concluding book of the series,
The High King
, was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1969. Alexander's other books have also won the National Book Award and the American Book Award. He was also one of the creators of Cricket Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 27, 2014
"Miss Vesper Holly dislikes weak tea and watercress sandwiches. She avoids those genteel occasions featuring starched white collars and white gloves. However, the slightest hint of something out of the ordinary is enough to gain the dear girl's attention.
'When a grand duchess asks you to her diamond jubilee celebration,' said Vesper, 'that's no tea party invitation.'"
It certainly isn't. In the third installment of Vesper Holly's adventures (narrated, as always, by her guardian and #1 fan Professor Brinton Garrett), the plot gets started in a slightly different way than its predecessors. Instead of finding out that she has inherited a volcano, or deciding to continue her father's research in a volatile part of the world, Vesper embarks on this adventure by accepting an invitation to a royal party in a stable European country (the Duchy of Drackenberg). Obviously everything still goes tits up, because this is a Vesper Holly adventure, but Alexander lets his heroine have a little mini-vacation, going to balls and exploring castles like any tourist, before throwing her into the real adventure.
I was on the verge of bumping this book's rating up to four stars, first because I enjoyed that the pace of the adventure was less breakneck than previous books. Things still moved quickly, but this time there was actually time for our heroes to breathe between adventures, rather than having to race from one dire scrape to another, and it gives the reader time to breathe as well.
Another reason this book deserves a higher rating (let's compromise and say three and a half stars) is because, for the first time, we get to spend quality time with Brinnie's wife, Mary. After being left behind to look after the house in The Illyrian Adventure and The El Dorado Adventure, Mary gets invited along to Drackenberg, and I'm only sad that Alexander waited until Book 3 to introduce her to readers. Mary establishes herself as a solid member of the team right off the bat, when she and Vesper are caught in a riot in the Drackenberg capital. When Brinnie arrives to spring his wife and his ward from jail, this delightful exchange occurs:
"'We were accosted,' said Mary. 'I do not tolerate being accosted under any circumstances, neither in Philadelphia nor anywhere else. I simply will not stand for it.'
'Aunt Mary used a handbag on them,' said Vesper."
Unfortunately (but unsurprisingly) Mary gets kidnapped by the bad guys pretty early in the book and has to sit most of the adventure out, but she still manages to make the most of her time when (spoiler alert?) she's rescued:
"Dear Brinnie, how could you ever have imagined that I would allow myself to be a helpless victim? To be abducted? Manhandled? And do nothing about it? That sort of treatment is entirely unacceptable. If I'd had my handbag, those ruffians would not have carried me off in the first place."
Aunt Mary is officially my favorite. I know it's not possible for a lot of reasons (for one thing, the entire series was published thirty years ago) but I'm still going to start a petition to have Mary replace Brinnie as Vesper's companion on her adventures. Bumbling and delightful as Brinnie is, I enjoyed Vesper and Mary's rapport infinitely more, and immediately started imagining how much fun it would be if Mary narrated one of the books. But I have a feeling this isn't going to happen.
I've been so busy fawning over Mary I haven't even gotten a chance to explain the plot yet. Right, so we get to Drackenberg and quickly learn that it's in danger of being annexed by its larger and richer neighbor, Carpatia. This, I've learned, is pretty much the default Vesper Holly conflict - two groups fighting each other, with our heroine siding with the scrappy underdog - but luckily the conflict takes more of a backseat this time. There's an entire subplot about a missing painting, and I wish it had been the main plotline, because it was nice to see Vesper invested in a small-scale problem that was still interesting. Vesper doesn't need to solve the problems of an entire country every time for the books to hold my interest. Oh, and also this book has Gypsies, and the best that can be said about them is that their portrayal is only mildly racist. Anyway, so we have the annexation conflict, and the missing painting, and everything moves along at a nice clip, and then everything gets ruined when - guess who - Dr. Helvitius shows up.
As I predicted in my review of The El Dorado Adventure, Dr. Helvitius has become a problem. I understand Alexander's need to give Vesper a nemesis - the series is inspired mainly by the Sherlock Holmes books, so we need a Moriarty - but there is a reason Moriarty only appears in two Holmes stories. The big super-dangerous villain can only show up so many times before you run out of reasons to explain why he hasn't just shot the heroine in the damn head already, and by Book 3, Alexander is already running out of reasons. In this one, Helvitius's goons capture Vesper and Brinnie, knock them unconscious, and transport them to a second location just so Helvitius can explain his dastardly plan to them and then kill them. This is irritating, but I understand that this is a book for children and Alexander can't have his villain actually murder the heroine, or even hurt her in any serious manner. But here is my real problem with Helvitius: he is a distraction. Every time he appears, he derails the entire plot and makes everything center around himself - instead of working on whatever problem she's been assigned in this book, Vesper has to completely refocus her attention on dealing with whatever dumb roadblocks Helvitius throws at her, and it's getting old. I really, really hope he's not in the fourth book, and Alexander lets Vesper deal with someone else for a change, but I know better than to get my hopes up. At least the adventures are still fun, despite their issues.
'When a grand duchess asks you to her diamond jubilee celebration,' said Vesper, 'that's no tea party invitation.'"
It certainly isn't. In the third installment of Vesper Holly's adventures (narrated, as always, by her guardian and #1 fan Professor Brinton Garrett), the plot gets started in a slightly different way than its predecessors. Instead of finding out that she has inherited a volcano, or deciding to continue her father's research in a volatile part of the world, Vesper embarks on this adventure by accepting an invitation to a royal party in a stable European country (the Duchy of Drackenberg). Obviously everything still goes tits up, because this is a Vesper Holly adventure, but Alexander lets his heroine have a little mini-vacation, going to balls and exploring castles like any tourist, before throwing her into the real adventure.
I was on the verge of bumping this book's rating up to four stars, first because I enjoyed that the pace of the adventure was less breakneck than previous books. Things still moved quickly, but this time there was actually time for our heroes to breathe between adventures, rather than having to race from one dire scrape to another, and it gives the reader time to breathe as well.
Another reason this book deserves a higher rating (let's compromise and say three and a half stars) is because, for the first time, we get to spend quality time with Brinnie's wife, Mary. After being left behind to look after the house in The Illyrian Adventure and The El Dorado Adventure, Mary gets invited along to Drackenberg, and I'm only sad that Alexander waited until Book 3 to introduce her to readers. Mary establishes herself as a solid member of the team right off the bat, when she and Vesper are caught in a riot in the Drackenberg capital. When Brinnie arrives to spring his wife and his ward from jail, this delightful exchange occurs:
"'We were accosted,' said Mary. 'I do not tolerate being accosted under any circumstances, neither in Philadelphia nor anywhere else. I simply will not stand for it.'
'Aunt Mary used a handbag on them,' said Vesper."
Unfortunately (but unsurprisingly) Mary gets kidnapped by the bad guys pretty early in the book and has to sit most of the adventure out, but she still manages to make the most of her time when (spoiler alert?) she's rescued:
"Dear Brinnie, how could you ever have imagined that I would allow myself to be a helpless victim? To be abducted? Manhandled? And do nothing about it? That sort of treatment is entirely unacceptable. If I'd had my handbag, those ruffians would not have carried me off in the first place."
Aunt Mary is officially my favorite. I know it's not possible for a lot of reasons (for one thing, the entire series was published thirty years ago) but I'm still going to start a petition to have Mary replace Brinnie as Vesper's companion on her adventures. Bumbling and delightful as Brinnie is, I enjoyed Vesper and Mary's rapport infinitely more, and immediately started imagining how much fun it would be if Mary narrated one of the books. But I have a feeling this isn't going to happen.
I've been so busy fawning over Mary I haven't even gotten a chance to explain the plot yet. Right, so we get to Drackenberg and quickly learn that it's in danger of being annexed by its larger and richer neighbor, Carpatia. This, I've learned, is pretty much the default Vesper Holly conflict - two groups fighting each other, with our heroine siding with the scrappy underdog - but luckily the conflict takes more of a backseat this time. There's an entire subplot about a missing painting, and I wish it had been the main plotline, because it was nice to see Vesper invested in a small-scale problem that was still interesting. Vesper doesn't need to solve the problems of an entire country every time for the books to hold my interest. Oh, and also this book has Gypsies, and the best that can be said about them is that their portrayal is only mildly racist. Anyway, so we have the annexation conflict, and the missing painting, and everything moves along at a nice clip, and then everything gets ruined when - guess who - Dr. Helvitius shows up.
As I predicted in my review of The El Dorado Adventure, Dr. Helvitius has become a problem. I understand Alexander's need to give Vesper a nemesis - the series is inspired mainly by the Sherlock Holmes books, so we need a Moriarty - but there is a reason Moriarty only appears in two Holmes stories. The big super-dangerous villain can only show up so many times before you run out of reasons to explain why he hasn't just shot the heroine in the damn head already, and by Book 3, Alexander is already running out of reasons. In this one, Helvitius's goons capture Vesper and Brinnie, knock them unconscious, and transport them to a second location just so Helvitius can explain his dastardly plan to them and then kill them. This is irritating, but I understand that this is a book for children and Alexander can't have his villain actually murder the heroine, or even hurt her in any serious manner. But here is my real problem with Helvitius: he is a distraction. Every time he appears, he derails the entire plot and makes everything center around himself - instead of working on whatever problem she's been assigned in this book, Vesper has to completely refocus her attention on dealing with whatever dumb roadblocks Helvitius throws at her, and it's getting old. I really, really hope he's not in the fourth book, and Alexander lets Vesper deal with someone else for a change, but I know better than to get my hopes up. At least the adventures are still fun, despite their issues.
February 19, 2024
This was another truly enchanting adventure of Vesper Holly. I love Alexander's writing! This was a fantastic read! Highly recommended!
January 17, 2020
Another cute but action-packed Vesper Holly adventure!
July 5, 2016
A very reasonable installment in this silly series. The Vesper Holly books feel more like a whimsical retirement project than a genuine fantasy series, but they are fun, whimsical, and consistently comical. In a far more serial fashion than for his grander works (like Prydain or Westmark) Alexander spun out these novels as a series of giddy romps. The villain consistently underestimates the characters, tells them all of his plans, and insists on keeping them alive, and the characters make many clever turns only to undercut themselves through farcical twists of foolishness. But they make for amusing light reading, the sort of books that are fun to read in the pauses amidst heavier or headier novels, and Alexander's sparkling sense of humor is always a treat!
November 7, 2014
as always a STUNNING novel....
January 28, 2015
I love that we got more of Aunt Mary in this book!! She is as great as Vesper and Brinnie.
November 20, 2016
When wealthy adventurer Vesper Holly and her guardian Professor Brinton Garrett cannot resist accepting an invitation to the diamond jubilee of the Grand Duchess Maria-Sophia of Drackenberg For one of the first times, Aunt Mary, Brinnie’s wife, is accompanying them. It’s only fair, after all, it’s thanks to her connections that they have an invitation at all.
In this book, returning villain Dr. Helvitius, is here to rob the tiny country of its newly formed money. On top of that, the evil Doctor has discovered a priceless treasure—a previously unknown work by no less than Leonardo da Vinci—that he is determined to have for his own. And only Vesper, Brinnie, and an assorted new group of friends have any hope of stopping him.
The best addition to the group and to the book is Aunt Mary, who has been more than a bit envious of the exciting trips her husband keeps taking. It is soon revealed that this I because she doesn’t know most of the less unpleasant details. But Aunt Mary, who always rather wanted to see a diamond jubilee and have the chance to meet the royalty of the era. Dr. Helvitius, who has by now learned that Vesper and Brinnie have a gift for escaping tight spots, thinks she’s an easy target. As do Brinnie and Vesper they unhesitatingly accept that Aunt Mary has been kidnapped and is in genuine peril, adding a personal motivation to their fight against Dr. Helvitius.
It therefore comes as a glorious moment to discover that practical Aunt Mary finds kidnapping, manhandling, and abduction completely unacceptable and something she will absolutely not tolerate. She jumps right out of the kidnappers’ outraged at their coarse and unmannerly behavior. She is one lady of middle years who believes that she does not need rescue; in fact she is even indignant that her husband doesn’t realize this. The book ends with Vesper, Brinnie, and Aunt Mary, back at home in Philadelphia.
In this book, returning villain Dr. Helvitius, is here to rob the tiny country of its newly formed money. On top of that, the evil Doctor has discovered a priceless treasure—a previously unknown work by no less than Leonardo da Vinci—that he is determined to have for his own. And only Vesper, Brinnie, and an assorted new group of friends have any hope of stopping him.
The best addition to the group and to the book is Aunt Mary, who has been more than a bit envious of the exciting trips her husband keeps taking. It is soon revealed that this I because she doesn’t know most of the less unpleasant details. But Aunt Mary, who always rather wanted to see a diamond jubilee and have the chance to meet the royalty of the era. Dr. Helvitius, who has by now learned that Vesper and Brinnie have a gift for escaping tight spots, thinks she’s an easy target. As do Brinnie and Vesper they unhesitatingly accept that Aunt Mary has been kidnapped and is in genuine peril, adding a personal motivation to their fight against Dr. Helvitius.
It therefore comes as a glorious moment to discover that practical Aunt Mary finds kidnapping, manhandling, and abduction completely unacceptable and something she will absolutely not tolerate. She jumps right out of the kidnappers’ outraged at their coarse and unmannerly behavior. She is one lady of middle years who believes that she does not need rescue; in fact she is even indignant that her husband doesn’t realize this. The book ends with Vesper, Brinnie, and Aunt Mary, back at home in Philadelphia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2026
[add .5 stars if you're under 15]
Only the third Vesper Holly book, “The Drackenberg Adventure” suggests a series that’s already getting tired. (Maybe Alexander never wanted a series, but when “The Illyrian Adventure” did well he found himself forced into one? The first book seems like such an obvious setup for one that it’s hard to believe that, though.) The narration no longer feels fresh, and the plot definitely isn’t: it’s just “The Illyrian Adventure” all over again, except with all the things that made that book feel like a clever update of an old form replaced by the same old cliches. Alexander attempts to inject some energy by bringing Brinnie's wife Mary along this time, but this maneuver instead ends up making Brinnie seem even more ridiculously incompetent: Watson wasn't a great detective, but he wasn't an idiot, either. At least it never drags, and it’s still occasionally amusing, but it’s definitely a letdown.
Only the third Vesper Holly book, “The Drackenberg Adventure” suggests a series that’s already getting tired. (Maybe Alexander never wanted a series, but when “The Illyrian Adventure” did well he found himself forced into one? The first book seems like such an obvious setup for one that it’s hard to believe that, though.) The narration no longer feels fresh, and the plot definitely isn’t: it’s just “The Illyrian Adventure” all over again, except with all the things that made that book feel like a clever update of an old form replaced by the same old cliches. Alexander attempts to inject some energy by bringing Brinnie's wife Mary along this time, but this maneuver instead ends up making Brinnie seem even more ridiculously incompetent: Watson wasn't a great detective, but he wasn't an idiot, either. At least it never drags, and it’s still occasionally amusing, but it’s definitely a letdown.
September 9, 2019
This is my favorite (so far) in the Vesper Holly Adventure series, by Lloyd Alexander. One part mystery, one part action adventure, I love the brisk pacing, the colorful characters, and the rich pallet of details. What a gift Lloyd Alexander has for bringing a story to life. Although the settings are fictional, these books read like "historical fiction" in their character and quality. Good stuff.
June 25, 2022
So I get that it's kids formula fiction, and I don't formula necessarily means bad. But the villain of this series is pretty one note and boring. There was at least a reason for him to show up again in the last book, but this one stretched probability a bit. Reading #4 now, and hoping it's a different bad guy this time.
January 2, 2020
A bit tired, uninspired. I’ll probably read The Philadelphia Adventure, which I think is #4 in the series, because (1) I’ve gone this far, (2) I own it, and (3) it’s in Philadelphia! But the first two were much better, imho.
July 4, 2017
Another corking adventure.
October 19, 2010
Not my most enjoyable Vesper Holly adventure -mostly as I felt the connection between the Italian Duchess and Vesper was never fully monopolized upon-- but still enjoyable, full of Brinnie's sarcastic humor and Vesper tenacious resolve to save the world, or at least, drqackenbuerg, all while upsetting the nefarious plan of Dr. Helvetius. This book features Mary accompanying them on their journey, which was refreshing, as it seems Mary and brinnie spend far too much time apart where vesper is concerned; it was good to see her beinging them together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2011
I found this third book in the Vesper Holly series to be as exciting and full of adventure as the first two, although the suspense did not seem as strong as in the previous two books. I did like the gypsy connection which reminded me of the adult Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourn, which is set in roughly the same time period, latter 1800s.
July 26, 2017
Probably my favorite of the three I've reread so far, and I can pinpoint a direct line between reading the adventures of Vesper Holly (this one in particular) and moving on to Elizabeth Peters Vicky Bliss and Amelia Peabody. Mary is also an excellent addition to the series, and it's the humor that really shines, more than the improbable adventures.
April 2, 2009
This series is like Indiana Jones, girl style. When the heione's parents die, she goes to live with her father's co-partner/gardian. She has many adventures in excotic lands which usually end up in life and death situations.
Ratings (out of 10):
Plot: 9 {little hard to follow if you are younger than 12}
Characters: 9
Writing Style: 9
Adventure: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 49/50 (A)
Ratings (out of 10):
Plot: 9 {little hard to follow if you are younger than 12}
Characters: 9
Writing Style: 9
Adventure: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 49/50 (A)
July 16, 2011
These are very silly. The repetition of foreign language endearments is tedious, but the evil villain is satisfyingly evil and the pride of the Philadelphian heroes is amusing. Plus, you get passages like this:
"'Vile being! To attempt our destruction by means of exploding edibles. What could be more reprehensible! To employ a harmless Drackenbergerwurst as an instrument of murder!'"
"'Vile being! To attempt our destruction by means of exploding edibles. What could be more reprehensible! To employ a harmless Drackenbergerwurst as an instrument of murder!'"
November 8, 2007
Read it the night I stopped sleeping.
August 3, 2009
Part of my summer reading from the library, I think - the year I was on the huge Lloyd Alexander kick.
August 14, 2008
This one, by far, had less action. I felt like It was finished so much faster than any of the others. But any book with Vesper as a leading heroine gets at least 4 stars.
January 21, 2009
people never talk about vesper holly anymore but i love to revisit. she's so independent and sassy, and so unflappable. a quick and refreshing set of books.
July 21, 2011
Grades 5+. Vesper Holly and her guardians travel to an obscure European country where their archenemy, Dr. Helvitius, is pursuing a lost art treasure and engineering the country's annexation.
September 14, 2011
I think that this book is really interesting nut i didn't like the ending.
December 21, 2021
3.5 stars.
Enjoyed more than the first two in the series, strangely enough.
Enjoyed more than the first two in the series, strangely enough.
September 11, 2012
Good series.
June 21, 2015
Love these books. I read them as a kid and now I am re-reading them. A breathe of fresh air.
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