What do you think?
Rate this book
The Boy Knight of Reims
Jean D'Orbais was born under the shadow of Reims Cathedral. From his earliest childhood he sees it growing in beauty through the efforts of the master craftsmen who are at work on it. When he is ten years old, he is apprenticed to a goldsmith, and begins his education in the arts. The story of his career, his escapades, his ambitions, and his final success, is enthralling. But it is not Jean alone who interests us. Through his eyes the child sees the bustling town of Reims in the fourteenth century, with its crafts and guilds, its merchants and its beggars, its nobles and its soldiers. He hears too of the Maid of Orleans, and her fight for France. Miss Lownsbery combines historic truth and accuracy with an interesting and living story. No textbook would give a child so vivid a picture as this does, and few other stories will so completely capture his imagination.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1927
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 9, 2019
94/100 (= 5.6/6) ≈ 5 Stars
-----------------------------------------
Oh my goodness. Believe it or not, this book is actually worldview changing!! On the surface, it is just a very well written novel for kids, set in medieval times. That on its own would have made it recommendable.
But, there's an extra dimension to this novel which sets it apart from all the rest of its kind. It also serves as a textbook for beauty, art and architecture. I think I learnt more from this little novel about the purpose of art then I could have from many courses and textbooks on the subject.
It demonstrates so fabulously what we humans could be doing with our time. Gives us insights into the men of the middle ages. Towns which dedicated entire centuries to beautifying their cathedrals, buildings, homes, clothes, objects.
The wonderfully balanced order of the guilds is also demonstrated skillfully. All in all, it made my heart soar. Seeing Strasbourg Cathedral a short time after reading this book was indescribably uplifting.
Contrast such joy with the stark reality of the modern age: the blasting of such marvels as the Reims Cathedral during a brain-dead world war -- centuries to build up; minutes to ruin.
-----------------------------------------
Oh my goodness. Believe it or not, this book is actually worldview changing!! On the surface, it is just a very well written novel for kids, set in medieval times. That on its own would have made it recommendable.
But, there's an extra dimension to this novel which sets it apart from all the rest of its kind. It also serves as a textbook for beauty, art and architecture. I think I learnt more from this little novel about the purpose of art then I could have from many courses and textbooks on the subject.
It demonstrates so fabulously what we humans could be doing with our time. Gives us insights into the men of the middle ages. Towns which dedicated entire centuries to beautifying their cathedrals, buildings, homes, clothes, objects.
The wonderfully balanced order of the guilds is also demonstrated skillfully. All in all, it made my heart soar. Seeing Strasbourg Cathedral a short time after reading this book was indescribably uplifting.
Contrast such joy with the stark reality of the modern age: the blasting of such marvels as the Reims Cathedral during a brain-dead world war -- centuries to build up; minutes to ruin.
August 24, 2012
This was a pretty good book, and not half as boring as i thought it would be :) I actually enjoyed the plot, and the ending was satisfactory.
March 3, 2021
This book was delightful and caught me so off guard in so many ways. I expected a lovely history fiction story and got so much more. Sprinkled within the lovely story were beautiful lines and descriptions, and the build up to the powerful ending was wonderful!
February 13, 2026
The epigraph--"For who can grasp in the easiest way the vital power of art? —the simple people and the children, the people of nature." -Nicuouas K. Rorricu
I gained a new perspective of cathedrals after reading this book. The builders and craftsman sacrificed so much to construct something they most likely would never see the completion of. I loved the story of Jean D'Orbais and his family--his love for his craft, the beauty of the cathedral, seeking forgiveness and honesty, and sculpting a statue of the maiden Joan of Arc as she lead the king to be crowned in Reims. Her piece in the story was very touching and really brought that part of history alive for me.
p.239 The Secret of the Cathedral:
"Men learn of God through Beauty. We Builders who Hold Beauty in our fingers have the key. We could create it only as we loved enough. We chose God as our partner: He chose us.
So was this cathedral builded stone on stone, Each carved with the beauty of a soul and God.
Wars may come, or raging fires, my son, But yet these towers and walls will ever stand; For they were built unto Eternity, And even if crushed down would rise again —For eager hands and hearts would catch the vision then, And build them into Beauty that is God."
"The quality of one's work depends upon one's thinking and one's praying."
p.315 For they and their fair land of France were saved. The Miracle-Maid had truly delivered them. And what of the Maid now, she who had done this thing? She was weeping at the feet of her King. Her great mission was accomplished. She, the unlearned and unlettered peasant girl from the borders of Lorraine, at whom the court had all scoffed at first, had done this thing at the command of her heavenly Voices. She had dared to forget herself. She had dared to fulfill the prophecy. Now her joy was so great that she had burst into tears and fallen at his feet, this young King of her making.
I gained a new perspective of cathedrals after reading this book. The builders and craftsman sacrificed so much to construct something they most likely would never see the completion of. I loved the story of Jean D'Orbais and his family--his love for his craft, the beauty of the cathedral, seeking forgiveness and honesty, and sculpting a statue of the maiden Joan of Arc as she lead the king to be crowned in Reims. Her piece in the story was very touching and really brought that part of history alive for me.
p.239 The Secret of the Cathedral:
"Men learn of God through Beauty. We Builders who Hold Beauty in our fingers have the key. We could create it only as we loved enough. We chose God as our partner: He chose us.
So was this cathedral builded stone on stone, Each carved with the beauty of a soul and God.
Wars may come, or raging fires, my son, But yet these towers and walls will ever stand; For they were built unto Eternity, And even if crushed down would rise again —For eager hands and hearts would catch the vision then, And build them into Beauty that is God."
"The quality of one's work depends upon one's thinking and one's praying."
p.315 For they and their fair land of France were saved. The Miracle-Maid had truly delivered them. And what of the Maid now, she who had done this thing? She was weeping at the feet of her King. Her great mission was accomplished. She, the unlearned and unlettered peasant girl from the borders of Lorraine, at whom the court had all scoffed at first, had done this thing at the command of her heavenly Voices. She had dared to forget herself. She had dared to fulfill the prophecy. Now her joy was so great that she had burst into tears and fallen at his feet, this young King of her making.
February 20, 2024
Good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2026
A good capture of historical life. Characters were developed and realistic, if a bit idealistic. Many enjoyable scenes.
May 8, 2025
4+1/4 ⭐️
Jean has hopes to follow in his father's footsteps as a sculptor, only to discover his family has decided to have him follow in his grandfather's footsteps instead. Apprenticed to a goldsmith, and living away from his family, Jean hopes to continue the family legacy of contribution to the construction of the Reims Cathedral.
Based on the title, I thought I was about to read a book about knighthood and Medieval battles.
Instead, this book is actually about art, inspiration for art, and art as a higher calling (specifically Medieval/ Religious art/masonry/sculpture). The book is full of detailed descriptions of the work that went into masonry, goldsmithing, and architecture in the Middle Ages. There were a couple of historical inaccuracies (balloons in the Middle Ages? Merry-go-rounds? In the Middle Ages merry-go-rounds were used to train knights, not as a fun ride) but the detail to the creation of artwork itself seems pretty accurate. The story is sweet and inspiring with religious/Catholic undertones and a connection to Joan of Arc. Jean perseveres and overcomes the difficulties that he faces, displaying personal growth and integrity. A great book for the middle schooler who enjoys historical fiction. I should also mention that the illustrations are beautiful.
Age recommendation: 11+
Content to consider: Religious overtones/Catholic traditions/Saints (Jean thinks he talks to angels/ saints), child abuse (teacher is verbally and physically cruel to his student), fighting, ref. to demons, boys set upon by adult thieves, death, one reference to mother nursing a baby at her breast, there is a location in the book called "Inn of the Striped Ass"
Jean has hopes to follow in his father's footsteps as a sculptor, only to discover his family has decided to have him follow in his grandfather's footsteps instead. Apprenticed to a goldsmith, and living away from his family, Jean hopes to continue the family legacy of contribution to the construction of the Reims Cathedral.
Based on the title, I thought I was about to read a book about knighthood and Medieval battles.
Instead, this book is actually about art, inspiration for art, and art as a higher calling (specifically Medieval/ Religious art/masonry/sculpture). The book is full of detailed descriptions of the work that went into masonry, goldsmithing, and architecture in the Middle Ages. There were a couple of historical inaccuracies (balloons in the Middle Ages? Merry-go-rounds? In the Middle Ages merry-go-rounds were used to train knights, not as a fun ride) but the detail to the creation of artwork itself seems pretty accurate. The story is sweet and inspiring with religious/Catholic undertones and a connection to Joan of Arc. Jean perseveres and overcomes the difficulties that he faces, displaying personal growth and integrity. A great book for the middle schooler who enjoys historical fiction. I should also mention that the illustrations are beautiful.
Age recommendation: 11+
Content to consider: Religious overtones/Catholic traditions/Saints (Jean thinks he talks to angels/ saints), child abuse (teacher is verbally and physically cruel to his student), fighting, ref. to demons, boys set upon by adult thieves, death, one reference to mother nursing a baby at her breast, there is a location in the book called "Inn of the Striped Ass"
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews