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Fortune's Fool
CONRAD THE GOOD serves as court jester to a most unworthy master: Lord Otto “the Witless,” who rarely appreciates jesting and acrobatics and more often rewards his good fool with a good whipping. So one night, Conrad flees, leaving Otto’s realm in search of a more enlightened master—taking with him only his noble horse, Blackspur, and his beloved, the servant girl Christa the Fair. As they take to the road, they soon learn that along with their quest comes hardship. But for all the hardships they encounter, there are as many unexpected joys and friends in unexpected places, and there is always their love for one another. And always, their destination lies before them: somewhere, a sanctuary where they’ll have the freedom to be together and be themselves.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2008
1 person is currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Karr
41 books21 followersKathleen Karr was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and grew up on a chicken farm in Dorothy, New Jersey. After escaping to college, she worked in the film industry, and also taught in high school and college. She seriously began writing fiction on a dare from her husband. After honing her skills in women’s fiction, her children asked her to write a book for them, (It Ain’t Always Easy, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990), and she discovered she loved writing for young readers.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 13, 2012
Cover Blurb: The only reason it caught my attention is because it was clearly either historical fiction or fantasy, and if it was historical fiction I wanted to read it. I like the idea behind it being like a stained-glass window, but I wish it actually looked more like a real stained-glass window, rather than a colored picture.
What I Liked: Conrad was an awesome protagonist. He was funny, but was also capable of being serious. The romantic relationship between him and Christa didn’t feel rushed because the story began with them already in a relationship. The storyline, while simplistic, was entertaining enough. A good, short little read for when you have nothing else on your shelf.
What I Disliked: It could have, and should have, been longer. A journey story needs to have more happen in it.
Believability: Clearly the Author has done research on the era and circumstances she is writing about. And she wonderfully doesn’t ignore the fact that religion was a big part of the Middle Ages. So many modern Authors will have their protagonist undecided about what they believe spiritually - or just conveniently not bring religion up at all. That doesn’t work if one sets it in an era where religion was so important, like the Middle Ages. It lessens the authenticity of one’s character and overall story. Conrad questions some of the things that the Church teaches, but his questions aren’t “out of sync” with the time period. I imagine there were a lot of jesters who questioned why they couldn’t have the sacraments simply because they were entertainers.
Writing Style: It’s nice; it fits the story’s simplicity, and the dialogue is in keeping with the era without being difficult to read at the same time.
Content: Conrad is always wanting Christa in a sexual sense, and his longing for that gets tiring to read about. But nothing comes of it.
Conclusion: Again, I think this story ought to have been longer. But the conclusion was satisfying enough.
Recommended Audience: Anyone who is looking for a short historical novel. A younger teen audience could read it, even with Conrad always wanting Christa (the Author isn’t detailed about his wants). Both girls and guys would enjoy it.
What I Liked: Conrad was an awesome protagonist. He was funny, but was also capable of being serious. The romantic relationship between him and Christa didn’t feel rushed because the story began with them already in a relationship. The storyline, while simplistic, was entertaining enough. A good, short little read for when you have nothing else on your shelf.
What I Disliked: It could have, and should have, been longer. A journey story needs to have more happen in it.
Believability: Clearly the Author has done research on the era and circumstances she is writing about. And she wonderfully doesn’t ignore the fact that religion was a big part of the Middle Ages. So many modern Authors will have their protagonist undecided about what they believe spiritually - or just conveniently not bring religion up at all. That doesn’t work if one sets it in an era where religion was so important, like the Middle Ages. It lessens the authenticity of one’s character and overall story. Conrad questions some of the things that the Church teaches, but his questions aren’t “out of sync” with the time period. I imagine there were a lot of jesters who questioned why they couldn’t have the sacraments simply because they were entertainers.
Writing Style: It’s nice; it fits the story’s simplicity, and the dialogue is in keeping with the era without being difficult to read at the same time.
Content: Conrad is always wanting Christa in a sexual sense, and his longing for that gets tiring to read about. But nothing comes of it.
Conclusion: Again, I think this story ought to have been longer. But the conclusion was satisfying enough.
Recommended Audience: Anyone who is looking for a short historical novel. A younger teen audience could read it, even with Conrad always wanting Christa (the Author isn’t detailed about his wants). Both girls and guys would enjoy it.
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com
As an orphaned teenage jester in the court of a medieval German lord, Conrad doesn't enjoy the best treatment.
He entertains Lord Otto with acrobatics learned from his jester father, now dead, and he makes friends with others at the castle, but he sleeps in a stable and has few human comforts. When he receives a particularly painful beating for speaking out against Lord Otto's unjust taxing of the peasants under his control, he resolves to leave in search of his freedom, or at least for a lord who will not be as cruel.
He intends to leave alone, but his love, Christa, one of Lord Otto's servants, refuses to let him leave without her, and they travel the German countryside, Christa disguised as a boy. Along their journey they meet with hardships in the form of terrible weather, more cruel lords, and restrictive laws, but they also meet up with engaging characters. My personal favorite is a young boy, Second-Chance Max, whom Conrad and Christa save from death and who then travels with them, learning the ways of a jester.
It's a pleasure to watch the growth of Conrad from a boy jester who's still unsure of his place in the world to a young man capable of leading a company of friends in the jester's art.
This book paints a historically accurate picture of late 1300s Germany, and the author's enthusiasm for historical detail never gets in the way of the reader's understanding. If anything, it enhances the experience of the story. From the food Conrad eats to the people he meets to the places he sees, every detail helps to set the scene. It is a world in which his characterization seems natural and believable. The author includes a note upon the history of the time and a list of the sources she used for her research, so more ambitious or interested readers have an outlet for discovering more about the world of Conrad and Christa.
As an orphaned teenage jester in the court of a medieval German lord, Conrad doesn't enjoy the best treatment.
He entertains Lord Otto with acrobatics learned from his jester father, now dead, and he makes friends with others at the castle, but he sleeps in a stable and has few human comforts. When he receives a particularly painful beating for speaking out against Lord Otto's unjust taxing of the peasants under his control, he resolves to leave in search of his freedom, or at least for a lord who will not be as cruel.
He intends to leave alone, but his love, Christa, one of Lord Otto's servants, refuses to let him leave without her, and they travel the German countryside, Christa disguised as a boy. Along their journey they meet with hardships in the form of terrible weather, more cruel lords, and restrictive laws, but they also meet up with engaging characters. My personal favorite is a young boy, Second-Chance Max, whom Conrad and Christa save from death and who then travels with them, learning the ways of a jester.
It's a pleasure to watch the growth of Conrad from a boy jester who's still unsure of his place in the world to a young man capable of leading a company of friends in the jester's art.
This book paints a historically accurate picture of late 1300s Germany, and the author's enthusiasm for historical detail never gets in the way of the reader's understanding. If anything, it enhances the experience of the story. From the food Conrad eats to the people he meets to the places he sees, every detail helps to set the scene. It is a world in which his characterization seems natural and believable. The author includes a note upon the history of the time and a list of the sources she used for her research, so more ambitious or interested readers have an outlet for discovering more about the world of Conrad and Christa.
June 13, 2008
Teenaged jester Conrad the Good escapes from his brutal lord Otto "the Witless," taking kitchen maid Christa (known for good reasons as "Christof" while on the road) with him. They are hindered in their plan to make their own way in the world as a married free couple by the legal status of jesters in 14th century Germany - essentially they have no rights whatsoever. This is as witty and moving an adventure as one could wish - Karr's trademark sense of humor is much in evidence, and she clearly identifies with her brave and resourceful jester.
September 22, 2008
Conrad, a jester in medieval Germany, flees his oafish master to find an enlightened master to work for. He is a likeable, well-drawn character, and armed only with jester wit and cleverness, he goes out into the world with his loyal horse and his beloved girlfriend (disguised as a boy apprentice). Karr captures the medieval tone of Conrad’s voice well, although the florid text will be cumbersome for some readers. Children had to grow up very quickly in those days, and it is easy to forget that the characters are just teenagers since they feel and sound so mature. There’s love and adventure, but the slow pace and old fashioned tone will make it difficult to find an audience.
June 2, 2008
This book sounds like many other "quests" with the travelling companion, assorted side-kicks, saved from fate's worse than death, it is an enjoyable read with interesting details about the life of the jester which it's vagaries and miscreants. Students of the Middle Ages will enjoy it. The romantic element makes it a little hard to place, discussion of breasts and coupling put it at the older end but the plot is not that complicated for older readers.
January 16, 2012
It takes us back to the medeival times in Germany when the "Fool" or the entertainer was a part of a society which looked down upon him in all ways possible.In this book, our hero, the fool,escapes from a terrible master and sets in search of a wise,fair and enlightened master along with his beloved.
March 4, 2009
A straight-up historical fiction. Set in the 13th century this would work well for reluctant middle-school readers or a mature 5th grader. There is a blossoming romance with vague details which is why this is better for older readers.
November 20, 2008
In medieval Germany Conrad the Fool, court jester, tries to find a kind lord to work for and along the way gathers a “family” to himself. Lots of fun.
August 11, 2016
Quite an enjoyable book from the historical perspective of a court fool.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews