What do you think?
Rate this book
The Goldsmith and the Master Thief
The first English translation of a classic adventure involving two very different twins by the celebrated author of The Letter for the King
Laurenzo and Jiacomo are identical twins, as alike as two drops of water. No one can tell them apart (which comes in very handy for playing tricks on their teachers). And no one can split them up.
But when tragedy strikes their carefree young lives, they must make their own way in the world. As each brother chooses his own path – hardworking Laurenzo to make beautiful objects from gold and silver, and fearless Jiacomo to travel, explore and become an unlikely thief – it is the start of a series of incredible escapades that will test them to their limits.
Along the way they will face terrible danger, solve cunning riddles, become prisoners in a castle, sail across the ocean, fall in and out of love, stay at an enchanted inn, help save a priceless pearl, even become kings by mistake.
They must use all their talents, wiles and wisdom to survive.
Are you ready to join them?
Tonke Dragt was born in Jakarta in 1930 and spent most of her childhood in Indonesia. When she was twelve, she was interned in a camp run by the Japanese occupiers, where she wrote (with a friend) her very first book using begged and borrowed paper. Her family moved to the Netherlands after the war and, after studying at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, Dragt became an art teacher. She published her first book in 1961, followed a year later by The Letter for the King, which won the Children's Book of the Year award and has been translated into sixteen languages. Dragt was awarded the State Prize for Youth Literature in 1976 and was knighted in 2001.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1961
16 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Tonke Dragt
52 books271 followersTonke Dragt werd in 1930 geboren in Nederlands-Indië, en heeft daar het grootste deel van haar jeugd doorgebracht. In 1942 kwam ze met haar moeder en twee zusjes terecht in een Jappenkamp, en daar heeft ze ontdekt dat ze ze kon ‘ontsnappen’ door verhalen te verzinnen. Ze schreef en tekende in eerder gebruikte uitgegumde schriftjes en zelfs op wc-papier, want er was bijna niets. Samen met een vriendinnetje maakte ze het ‘boek’ De jacht op de Touwkleurige.
Na de oorlog kwam het gezin naar Nederland. Tonke deed hier haar eindexamen van de middelbare school en ging naar de academie voor beeldende kunsten. Ze werd tekenlerares. Als de orde in haar klas verstoord dreigde te raken, begon ze altijd een verhaal te vertellen. En dan werd het muisstil. Ze organiseerde op school ook een spookverhalenschrijversclub, waar de meest griezelige dingen gebeurden!
In 1956 werd voor het eerst een verhaal van Tonke gepubliceerd, en daarna werden er steeds meer gevraagd. Ze kreeg het druk: overdag lesgeven en ’s avonds en vooral ’s nachts schrijven. In 1961 verscheen haar eerste boek: Verhalen van de tweelingbroers.
Een jaar later kwam De brief voor de koning, dat werd bekroond met de prijs voor het beste kinderboek van het jaar, een voorloper van de Gouden Griffel. Het kreeg ook een vervolg: Geheimen van het Wilde Woud.
De meeste kinderboekenschrijvers schreven in die tijd realistische verhalen, maar Tonke creëerde haar eigen werelden, zoals de Rijken van Dagonaut en Unauwen.
Het thema ‘tijd’ speelt vaak een rol in haar boeken. De hoofdpersoon van De torens van februari kan eens in de vier jaar, op schrikkeldag, naar een andere wereld reizen, en Torenhoog en mijlen breed speelt zich af in de toekomst. Het geheim van de klokkenmaker gaat over een tijdmachine – en vooral over de vraag wat er gebeurt als je daar niet heel voorzichtig mee omgaat…
Tonke houdt van poezen. Die geven haar de mogelijkheid een tijger te aaien. En tijgers intrigeren haar: Ogen van tijgers is niet voor niets geschreven!
Al haar poezen (en ze heeft er vele gehad) zijn op een bijzondere manier bij haar gekomen: aanloopkatten, eenzame katten als het baasje was overleden… Ze krijgen allemaal een naam die met een W begint. Wapperstaart, Woesti en Wicci de Winterpoes zijn de meest recente.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
May 10, 2021
In the city of Bainu in the country of Babina, identical twin boys were born to a poor cobbler and his wife. In twelve interconnected medieval tales, Laurenzo and Jiacomo's travels and travails are delightfully penned, appealing especially to the 8-12 year old set.
Inseparable as young boys, penniless after their parent's death, each boy must embrace a trade. How to choose? Traveling together, they approach a fork in the road. Lorenzo wants to work with his hands, to make something out of silver or gold. Perfect! By having taken the right fork in the road, he meets Master Philippo, the most famous goldsmith in Bainu. This chance encounter will result in an apprenticeship as a goldsmith. Laurenzo has a good eye, a quiet demeanor and is methodical. The left fork will lead Jiacomo to Jannos, a hunter of valuable game. "My trade is for skillful, intelligent resourceful people...come with me and I'll teach you my trade...You could become a decent robber and an excellent thief." Jiacomo had hoped to travel the world in search of awesome adventures. Jannos's words were certainly enticing. Was thievery Jiacomo's calling?
Despite their distinct personalities and different mind sets, Laurenzo and Jiacomo were always there for each other. There were challenges and many escapades including opportunities to seemingly be in two places at the same time. They would become prisoners in a castle, solve complex riddles, and impersonate a knight to get the girl.
"The Goldsmith and the Master Thief" by Tonke Dragt is a lovely read, a throwback to simpler times, with tales of brotherly love, loyalty and devotion. Each tale might be read as a bedtime story, used for classroom listening, or read as a complete novel. Tonke Dragt's wonderful tome is a joy to behold.
Thank you Pushkin Children's Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Inseparable as young boys, penniless after their parent's death, each boy must embrace a trade. How to choose? Traveling together, they approach a fork in the road. Lorenzo wants to work with his hands, to make something out of silver or gold. Perfect! By having taken the right fork in the road, he meets Master Philippo, the most famous goldsmith in Bainu. This chance encounter will result in an apprenticeship as a goldsmith. Laurenzo has a good eye, a quiet demeanor and is methodical. The left fork will lead Jiacomo to Jannos, a hunter of valuable game. "My trade is for skillful, intelligent resourceful people...come with me and I'll teach you my trade...You could become a decent robber and an excellent thief." Jiacomo had hoped to travel the world in search of awesome adventures. Jannos's words were certainly enticing. Was thievery Jiacomo's calling?
Despite their distinct personalities and different mind sets, Laurenzo and Jiacomo were always there for each other. There were challenges and many escapades including opportunities to seemingly be in two places at the same time. They would become prisoners in a castle, solve complex riddles, and impersonate a knight to get the girl.
"The Goldsmith and the Master Thief" by Tonke Dragt is a lovely read, a throwback to simpler times, with tales of brotherly love, loyalty and devotion. Each tale might be read as a bedtime story, used for classroom listening, or read as a complete novel. Tonke Dragt's wonderful tome is a joy to behold.
Thank you Pushkin Children's Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2021
My thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for a review copy of this one.
A few years ago, I chanced upon the Dutch film version of The Letter for the King by children’s author, Tonke Dragt (with subtitles) and soon after found the English translation of the book on NetGalley, both of which I ended up enjoying very much. So of course when I spotted this, another Dragt title in translation on NetGalley I had to jump at the chance.
The Goldsmith and the Master Thief is Dragt’s first novel published originally in 1961. The translation is by Laura Watkinson, who also translated The Letter for the King.
This is the story of twins Lorenzo and Jiacomo, born to a cobbler and his wife in the city of Bainu, the capital of the country of Babina. The boys are identical as two drops of water but their personalities are completely different. In interesting circumstances surrounding their birth, they each grow up with a pigeon, a cat, and a dog—though it is mostly the dogs that accompany them on their adventures. Laurenzo and Jiacomo have a happy childhood playing about and when the time comes to start school, have a bit of fun tricking the monks there. But then tragedy strikes as they lose their parents, and they must make their own way in the world. Their ties with each other being strong, they do not wish to part but are soon made to realise that they will have to in order to find work that suits each. They separate promising to meet again in a year. Lorenzo goes on to meet and train with Master Philippo, a famous goldsmith, for he always wished to make something. But, Jiacomo can’t really make up his mind what he wants to be. He runs into Jannos who turns out to be a thief and trains Jiacomo in his trade. Jiacomo goes on to be very good indeed but he certainly does not want to be a thief. But agreeing to take up one task for his master, he sets off. He accomplishes his task using his intelligence and skill but still ends up in a fair bit of trouble, from which only Laurenzo can rescue him. Thus begin a series of adventures, which take the brothers to different places and involve them in little mysteries and troubles, some putting them in danger and others simply requiring them to pit their wits against others.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one (in fact I was wishing I had read this as I child because I know I would have found it a great deal of fun back then as well). Set in a fantasy kingdom (though with no magic or magical elements as such), the twins have a range of adventures from school-pranks to theft, solving riddles to the mystery of a haunted inn, involving themselves in politics to falling in love. And their adventures don’t just keep them in Bainu/Babina, they travel for work (Laurenzo receives various commissions) and for fun, by land and by sea. While each story is complete in itself, the collection ties together well as a book too.
What I enjoyed most about the stories was how the fact that Laurenzo and Jaicomo are twins plays a role in each of them—whether it is to rescue each other from a tight corner, or teach two warring factions a lesson or catch a ‘ghost’—it is their identical appearance that helps them and ends up baffling more than one opponent.
I loved the brothers (both very likeable—even Jiacomo who seems to spend much of his time doing nothing in contrast to the hard-working Lorenzo) and their relationship; as twins, they are expectedly tied deeply to each other and are always there to support and help the other. Sometimes, by circumstance, at others more actively looking for the other when they are apart, they are always there for the other. There is a brief falling out however, but not an unexpected one, and it is resolved fairly soon.
This was a fun and entertaining read, which I enjoyed very very much.
A few years ago, I chanced upon the Dutch film version of The Letter for the King by children’s author, Tonke Dragt (with subtitles) and soon after found the English translation of the book on NetGalley, both of which I ended up enjoying very much. So of course when I spotted this, another Dragt title in translation on NetGalley I had to jump at the chance.
The Goldsmith and the Master Thief is Dragt’s first novel published originally in 1961. The translation is by Laura Watkinson, who also translated The Letter for the King.
This is the story of twins Lorenzo and Jiacomo, born to a cobbler and his wife in the city of Bainu, the capital of the country of Babina. The boys are identical as two drops of water but their personalities are completely different. In interesting circumstances surrounding their birth, they each grow up with a pigeon, a cat, and a dog—though it is mostly the dogs that accompany them on their adventures. Laurenzo and Jiacomo have a happy childhood playing about and when the time comes to start school, have a bit of fun tricking the monks there. But then tragedy strikes as they lose their parents, and they must make their own way in the world. Their ties with each other being strong, they do not wish to part but are soon made to realise that they will have to in order to find work that suits each. They separate promising to meet again in a year. Lorenzo goes on to meet and train with Master Philippo, a famous goldsmith, for he always wished to make something. But, Jiacomo can’t really make up his mind what he wants to be. He runs into Jannos who turns out to be a thief and trains Jiacomo in his trade. Jiacomo goes on to be very good indeed but he certainly does not want to be a thief. But agreeing to take up one task for his master, he sets off. He accomplishes his task using his intelligence and skill but still ends up in a fair bit of trouble, from which only Laurenzo can rescue him. Thus begin a series of adventures, which take the brothers to different places and involve them in little mysteries and troubles, some putting them in danger and others simply requiring them to pit their wits against others.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one (in fact I was wishing I had read this as I child because I know I would have found it a great deal of fun back then as well). Set in a fantasy kingdom (though with no magic or magical elements as such), the twins have a range of adventures from school-pranks to theft, solving riddles to the mystery of a haunted inn, involving themselves in politics to falling in love. And their adventures don’t just keep them in Bainu/Babina, they travel for work (Laurenzo receives various commissions) and for fun, by land and by sea. While each story is complete in itself, the collection ties together well as a book too.
What I enjoyed most about the stories was how the fact that Laurenzo and Jaicomo are twins plays a role in each of them—whether it is to rescue each other from a tight corner, or teach two warring factions a lesson or catch a ‘ghost’—it is their identical appearance that helps them and ends up baffling more than one opponent.
I loved the brothers (both very likeable—even Jiacomo who seems to spend much of his time doing nothing in contrast to the hard-working Lorenzo) and their relationship; as twins, they are expectedly tied deeply to each other and are always there to support and help the other. Sometimes, by circumstance, at others more actively looking for the other when they are apart, they are always there for the other. There is a brief falling out however, but not an unexpected one, and it is resolved fairly soon.
This was a fun and entertaining read, which I enjoyed very very much.
April 17, 2021
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Goldsmith and the Master Thief is a beautifully woven, adventurous story that pulls you in from the start.
Jiacomo and Laurenzo are identical twins but are completely different personality wise from each other.
This book has twelve stories full of adventure from start to finish.
Each story was so picturesquely worded and set, that I felt like I was there as I read along.
If your looking for a story full of adventure and escapism this is definitely a book you need to check out.
The Goldsmith and the Master Thief is a beautifully woven, adventurous story that pulls you in from the start.
Jiacomo and Laurenzo are identical twins but are completely different personality wise from each other.
This book has twelve stories full of adventure from start to finish.
Each story was so picturesquely worded and set, that I felt like I was there as I read along.
If your looking for a story full of adventure and escapism this is definitely a book you need to check out.
July 13, 2023
A severely underrated classic by the amazing Tonke Dragt. Greatly recommended for all the (former) weird little kids who were obsessed with the idea of becoming a pickpocket/burglar. If you know you know.
Also recommended for fans of Shakespeare! (although, based on personal experience, it's possible these categories overlap by a lot. Again, iykyk)
Also recommended for fans of Shakespeare! (although, based on personal experience, it's possible these categories overlap by a lot. Again, iykyk)
March 20, 2020
A couple of years ago, when I turned the last page of Tonke Dragt’s The Letter for the King, I felt like I had travelled back in time. I felt I had mingled with knights on horses, visited medieval forts, and met quirky characters that made my head spin, along the way. I felt rejuvenated at the end of it.
That’s exactly how I feel now after reading The Goldsmith and the Master Thief. I was swept along, right from the beginning, on the many rip-roaring adventures that the twin brothers Laurenzo and Jiacomo get into.
Most of the 12 stories are anchored on mistaken identities and the situations that ensue because of how much the brothers resemble each other. But they have very different personalities – Laurenzo is the steady, practical, and sensible sort while Jiacomo is the restless thrill-seeker, always ready for something new – which they leverage to their benefit, working as a team.
Through it all there are strong themes of loyalty, honesty, and kinship that I saw in The Letter for the King, as well. But what I particularly liked in The Goldsmith and the Master Thief is a strong thread of conscience and a belief in fact vs fiction. Without giving away spoilers I can say the Eighth Tale of the Inn of Elvenghest is a prime example.
If there is any magic at all, it’s in Dragt’s writing, so wonderfully brought alive by Laura Watkinson’s skilful translation. It’s what makes this book such a delightful and arresting read not just for children but also for adults.
A big thank you to Pushkin Press for this ARC. I can’t wait to read more of Dragt!
That’s exactly how I feel now after reading The Goldsmith and the Master Thief. I was swept along, right from the beginning, on the many rip-roaring adventures that the twin brothers Laurenzo and Jiacomo get into.
Most of the 12 stories are anchored on mistaken identities and the situations that ensue because of how much the brothers resemble each other. But they have very different personalities – Laurenzo is the steady, practical, and sensible sort while Jiacomo is the restless thrill-seeker, always ready for something new – which they leverage to their benefit, working as a team.
Through it all there are strong themes of loyalty, honesty, and kinship that I saw in The Letter for the King, as well. But what I particularly liked in The Goldsmith and the Master Thief is a strong thread of conscience and a belief in fact vs fiction. Without giving away spoilers I can say the Eighth Tale of the Inn of Elvenghest is a prime example.
If there is any magic at all, it’s in Dragt’s writing, so wonderfully brought alive by Laura Watkinson’s skilful translation. It’s what makes this book such a delightful and arresting read not just for children but also for adults.
A big thank you to Pushkin Press for this ARC. I can’t wait to read more of Dragt!
August 29, 2021
Tonke Dragt is a great writer and this book proves that. For my English review-followers: this book IS translated --> The Goldsmith and the Master Thief READ IT!
I love how this story shows the bond of brotherhood in these twelve tales, where you keep on wondering what happens next. I can imagine people reading this to their kids, but even as an adult it's a fun read.
Anyway. Just read it. I loved it.
I love how this story shows the bond of brotherhood in these twelve tales, where you keep on wondering what happens next. I can imagine people reading this to their kids, but even as an adult it's a fun read.
Anyway. Just read it. I loved it.
November 16, 2025
Geweldig, grappig, fantastisch, heerlijk! Waarom? Lees zelf maar ;-)
Nog steeds. Als kind was dit een ontzettend leuk voorleesverhaal, daar leent het zich ook erg goed voor. Als groot kind vind ik het nog steeds erg leuk.
Niet voor niets favoriet en heel mooi dat er nu een editie is met de originele kleurenillustraties is.
Nog steeds. Als kind was dit een ontzettend leuk voorleesverhaal, daar leent het zich ook erg goed voor. Als groot kind vind ik het nog steeds erg leuk.
Niet voor niets favoriet en heel mooi dat er nu een editie is met de originele kleurenillustraties is.
May 24, 2025
Ik vond het super leuk! Ik vind Mariana van Arca heel leuk en ook Rosalinde. Ik vind Laurenzo leuker dan Jiacomo want Laurenzo maakt prachtige dingen zoals oorbellen een zilveren riem en veel andere dingen. Laurenzo is ook heel lief en dapper. Ik vind wel dat Jiacomo meer dapper is want hij durft om in huizen te inbreken. Ik vind hun vriend Antonio ook wel grappig en lief.
September 13, 2020
Ik heb dit boek zolang ik me kan herinneren in mijn boekenkast staan, maar ik had het dus nog nooit gelezen. Leuke verhaaltjes over tweelingbroers die vanalles beleven. Heeft de tand des tijds prima doorstaan al zeg ik het zelf.
December 29, 2020
I liked this book as it has lots of adventures and the way it is told is also quite good.
May 29, 2022
If I could have a superpower, it would be to be able to read in any language. It irks me to no end to know that there are so many beautiful children's books, poetry, novels, nature writing - you name it - that I will never be able to enjoy because I can only read English. I am so limited!
So - thank God for the translators! How they have enriched my life!
This book was fun. The trouble identical twins can get into, and the advantages of being a twin too, served up in a series of adventures that are reminiscent of Sinbad the Sailor or Tom Sawyer. (Not exactly like that, but sort of.)
So - thank God for the translators! How they have enriched my life!
This book was fun. The trouble identical twins can get into, and the advantages of being a twin too, served up in a series of adventures that are reminiscent of Sinbad the Sailor or Tom Sawyer. (Not exactly like that, but sort of.)
December 21, 2022
Wie Tonke Dragt zegt noemt automatisch Brief voor de koning, De zevensprong, De geheimen van het wilde woud maar ook haar debuut Verhalen van de tweelingbroers dat in 1961 verscheen. De laatste titel is later gewijzigd in ‘De goudsmid en de meesterdief’.
Wie ooit de verhalen over Laurenzo en Jiacomo heeft gelezen, voorgelezen en weer gelezen zal waarschijnlijk blijven denken in ‘De tweelingbroers’. Door het verschijnen van deze uitgave, 18e druk 2022, kan er verwarring ontstaan of dit een geheel nieuw verhaal is. Tot je het openslaat en als ondertitel ziet staan: ‘Vrij naar Babinase Balladen’ en je weet weer waarover je gaat lezen. Twaalf verhalen over twee broers uit het land Babina die enorm veel op elkaar lijken en tevens heel verschillend zijn. Verhalen met gebeurtenissen die gebaseerd zijn op sprookjes en volksverhalen.
Waarom de titel ooit is gewijzigd is niet helemaal duidelijk, ‘de tweelingbroers’ was prima. Wel is het zo dat Laurenzo een bekende edelsmid wordt en Jiacomo, de avontuurlijke van het duo, als meesterdief bekend staat. Hun levens lopen een tijd gelijk op, maar hun kindertijd stopt abrupt als de ouders door een besmettelijke ziekte overlijden. Ze besluiten samen de stad Bainoe te verlaten, waarna vrij snel hun wegen scheiden.
De schuingedrukte stukjes tekst na een hoofdstuk zijn schakels tussen de belevenissen van de twee, soms afzonderlijk en soms toch gezamenlijk als hun paden weer kruisen. Allerlei personages komen voorbij, de vreemdste situaties en ook één jonkvrouw. Onder de hoofdstuktitels wordt met een citaat aangegeven waarop een volgend verhaal is gebaseerd. Van Grimm, Sindbad de zeeman tot Shakespeare. Het omslag, de tekening op de schutbladen en de verschillende zwartwit illustraties verdeeld in de tekst zijn ook van Tonke Dragt. Fantasie, humor, spanning, sprookjeselementen en de schrijfstijl maken de verhalen van alle tijden.
Verhalen die uitnodigen om zelf te lezen. Of nog beter: laat je voorlezen, samen genieten van dit nog altijd geweldige boek. Iedere avond een verhaal. Een boek om in donkere dagen in
te verdwijnen. Een boek om cadeau te geven. Blijvend goed.
Wie ooit de verhalen over Laurenzo en Jiacomo heeft gelezen, voorgelezen en weer gelezen zal waarschijnlijk blijven denken in ‘De tweelingbroers’. Door het verschijnen van deze uitgave, 18e druk 2022, kan er verwarring ontstaan of dit een geheel nieuw verhaal is. Tot je het openslaat en als ondertitel ziet staan: ‘Vrij naar Babinase Balladen’ en je weet weer waarover je gaat lezen. Twaalf verhalen over twee broers uit het land Babina die enorm veel op elkaar lijken en tevens heel verschillend zijn. Verhalen met gebeurtenissen die gebaseerd zijn op sprookjes en volksverhalen.
Waarom de titel ooit is gewijzigd is niet helemaal duidelijk, ‘de tweelingbroers’ was prima. Wel is het zo dat Laurenzo een bekende edelsmid wordt en Jiacomo, de avontuurlijke van het duo, als meesterdief bekend staat. Hun levens lopen een tijd gelijk op, maar hun kindertijd stopt abrupt als de ouders door een besmettelijke ziekte overlijden. Ze besluiten samen de stad Bainoe te verlaten, waarna vrij snel hun wegen scheiden.
De schuingedrukte stukjes tekst na een hoofdstuk zijn schakels tussen de belevenissen van de twee, soms afzonderlijk en soms toch gezamenlijk als hun paden weer kruisen. Allerlei personages komen voorbij, de vreemdste situaties en ook één jonkvrouw. Onder de hoofdstuktitels wordt met een citaat aangegeven waarop een volgend verhaal is gebaseerd. Van Grimm, Sindbad de zeeman tot Shakespeare. Het omslag, de tekening op de schutbladen en de verschillende zwartwit illustraties verdeeld in de tekst zijn ook van Tonke Dragt. Fantasie, humor, spanning, sprookjeselementen en de schrijfstijl maken de verhalen van alle tijden.
Verhalen die uitnodigen om zelf te lezen. Of nog beter: laat je voorlezen, samen genieten van dit nog altijd geweldige boek. Iedere avond een verhaal. Een boek om in donkere dagen in
te verdwijnen. Een boek om cadeau te geven. Blijvend goed.
January 2, 2020
Dit is de tweede keer dat ik dit boek 'herlas' sinds ik op de basisschool zat. 'Herlas': David en ik hebben het aan elkaar voorgelezen. En hoewel de verhalen nog altijd vermakelijk zijn (vooral 't tweede, volgens mij, over de beker, en het verhaal over de Herberg), werkte het toch minder goed als voorleesboek als volwassene dan gehoopt. Op gegeven moment ken je het principe wel, wat de verhalen voorspelbaar maakt, en daarbij zit er ook in de schrijfstijl veel herhaling: veel (plot)punten worden meerdere keren uitgelegd.
Als kind stoorde ik me hier niet aan, en ook toen ik het herlas, las ik er een beetje overheen. Maar als je voorleest, duurt het lezen langer, ligt de focus meer op elk woord, en dan wordt het toch wel bij vlagen langdradig. Wat dan ook niet helpt is dat de hoofdstukken vrij lang zijn, eigenlijk te lang om in een zitting weer te lezen (ook door bovenstaande).
Nog steeds een ontzettend goed jeugdboek, dat verder volledig niet teleurstelde.
Als kind stoorde ik me hier niet aan, en ook toen ik het herlas, las ik er een beetje overheen. Maar als je voorleest, duurt het lezen langer, ligt de focus meer op elk woord, en dan wordt het toch wel bij vlagen langdradig. Wat dan ook niet helpt is dat de hoofdstukken vrij lang zijn, eigenlijk te lang om in een zitting weer te lezen (ook door bovenstaande).
Nog steeds een ontzettend goed jeugdboek, dat verder volledig niet teleurstelde.
February 21, 2020
How does she do it? Tonke Dragt is a master of making relatable characters that you grow fiercely fond of—and then they go on a series of haphazard, creative, hilarious adventures that keep you guessing—and leave you satisfied.
Five stars for The Goldsmith and the Master Thief! Such a joy to read the translation! Thank you Laura Watkinson!
Five stars for The Goldsmith and the Master Thief! Such a joy to read the translation! Thank you Laura Watkinson!
July 22, 2022
4,25 sterren- Nederlandse hardcover
Jiacomo is de helft van een tweeling. Hij lijkt als twee druppels water op zijn broer Laurenzo, maar die is anders dan hij. Laurenzo wil graag mooie dingen maken en wordt edelsmid. Jiacomo houdt van reizen en avontuur en hij is handig genoeg om een uitstekende dief te worden?
Een edelsmid en een meesterdief, die zoveel op elkaar lijken dat ze gemakkelijk verwisseld kunnen worden ? daarover zijn vele verhalen te vertellen!
Zulke geweldige verhalen vol energie en fantasie.
Jiacomo is de helft van een tweeling. Hij lijkt als twee druppels water op zijn broer Laurenzo, maar die is anders dan hij. Laurenzo wil graag mooie dingen maken en wordt edelsmid. Jiacomo houdt van reizen en avontuur en hij is handig genoeg om een uitstekende dief te worden?
Een edelsmid en een meesterdief, die zoveel op elkaar lijken dat ze gemakkelijk verwisseld kunnen worden ? daarover zijn vele verhalen te vertellen!
Zulke geweldige verhalen vol energie en fantasie.
November 21, 2024
Ik kies dit jaar voor de klassiekers 🤩. Die verdienen meer dan ooit hun plek in de GV100! Mijn keuze voor de nieuwe lijst: ‘Alle verhalen van Kikker en Pad’ van Arnold Lobel, ‘Misschien wisten ze alles’ van Toon Tellegen, ‘De GVR’ van Roald Dahl, ‘De tuinen van Dorr’ van Paul Biegel, en opnieuw ‘De verhalen van de tweelingbroers’ van Tonke Dragt. 🌟
January 20, 2022
Katya really enjoyed this book and I’m glad she recommended it to me. It felt like a collection of folktale-type adventures linked by a loose plot thread. There were some clever stories and the ending adventure was especially fun.
May 5, 2021
I liked this book.
It follows identical twins on 12 journeys.
One becomes a jeweler and the other a thief.
It follows identical twins on 12 journeys.
One becomes a jeweler and the other a thief.
May 22, 2021
Leuke verhalen voor het slapen gaan, wel enorm ouderwets maarja dat viel te verwachten haha.
September 24, 2022
Fijn verhalenboek!
February 21, 2020
Another classic novel from Tonke Dragt! This is her first published book and it is just as delightful and intriguing as her other works, The Letter for the King, The Secrets of the Wild Wood, The Song of Seven, and The Towers of February.
April 18, 2020
Modern classic with a fairy/folk tale feel. Fantastic stories of twin brothers' adventures.
I just love this author, she manages to create authentically medieval/fantasy characters and settings for a modern audience and make you feel they could have been written and shared hundreds of years ago. The Letter for the King has never left me, and these episodic incidents are just as fairy-tale-like.
A tale told in parts, it's the life story of twins Laurenzo and Jiacomo, identical sons with mischief in their good-natured hearts. Close and loyal, their childhood capers become more serious as they are abruptly forced to make their own ways in the world. Though identical on the surface, the two brothers are very different young men, and choose different paths. But twins are never too far apart in stories such as these, and their love for each other, as well as their physical similarities, will play important roles in each other's escapades.
I got picked up by this, carried away in the fairy tale-ness of it all. Refreshing for these kinds of yarns these days, it's the male characters taking centre stage, not a Disney princess-type. A narrative of brothers helping each other, both honourable, though on different paths, one becomes apprentice to a goldsmith, the other inadvertently finds his mentor is a master thief. These skills will all find a place in their later lives.
It all ties together beautifully, as royals and castles and mysteries, beautiful women and villains all step onto the path ahead of the twins' life journeys. The brothers are more than archetypes, they move outside the usual prince/miller's son simple cliché, and I loved the many different familiar settings and stories that they find themselves part of.
I could have read much more of their lives, and would definitely recommend it to young readers who are confident by themselves. There's a sly sense of humour running through this, children will enjoy the sibling rivalries/devotion and all the obstacles they meet and have to overcome in this Middle Age-fantasy setting.
For ages 8-12, and anyone older who loves a good traditional story.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.
I just love this author, she manages to create authentically medieval/fantasy characters and settings for a modern audience and make you feel they could have been written and shared hundreds of years ago. The Letter for the King has never left me, and these episodic incidents are just as fairy-tale-like.
A tale told in parts, it's the life story of twins Laurenzo and Jiacomo, identical sons with mischief in their good-natured hearts. Close and loyal, their childhood capers become more serious as they are abruptly forced to make their own ways in the world. Though identical on the surface, the two brothers are very different young men, and choose different paths. But twins are never too far apart in stories such as these, and their love for each other, as well as their physical similarities, will play important roles in each other's escapades.
I got picked up by this, carried away in the fairy tale-ness of it all. Refreshing for these kinds of yarns these days, it's the male characters taking centre stage, not a Disney princess-type. A narrative of brothers helping each other, both honourable, though on different paths, one becomes apprentice to a goldsmith, the other inadvertently finds his mentor is a master thief. These skills will all find a place in their later lives.
It all ties together beautifully, as royals and castles and mysteries, beautiful women and villains all step onto the path ahead of the twins' life journeys. The brothers are more than archetypes, they move outside the usual prince/miller's son simple cliché, and I loved the many different familiar settings and stories that they find themselves part of.
I could have read much more of their lives, and would definitely recommend it to young readers who are confident by themselves. There's a sly sense of humour running through this, children will enjoy the sibling rivalries/devotion and all the obstacles they meet and have to overcome in this Middle Age-fantasy setting.
For ages 8-12, and anyone older who loves a good traditional story.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.
July 3, 2020
An Instructive and Entertaining Fairytale
Do you remember those old-school books about hard working urchins, honest orphans, trustworthy Boy Scouts, and Horatio Alger strivers? They imparted gentle moral lessons embedded in ripping adventures. Well, this most recent translation of another Tonke Dragt classic from the Netherlands will transport you back to those days of thrilling adventure, mischief and humor.
This time we have two twin brothers trying to find their ways in the world. Their paths cross, separate, and recross through a series of clever episodes that eventually circle around to a happy and satisfying ending for all concerned. Along the way each brother learns about the world, about himself, and about the enduring bonds of fraternal love and loyalty.
The setting is vaguely medieval, so this is not a tale of making one's way in the modern world. Rather, we have a simpler, more basic, more traditional world canvas upon which to lay out the brothers' tales. That puts the focus on the characters and personalities of the brothers and of the various sorts of people they meet, and allows for crisp, clear and direct story telling.
After an intro chapter in which we meet the mischievous young brothers, the book progresses as twelve distinct but interrelated episodes or tales. This is perfect for a young reader, with nicely placed breaks and resolutions. It also allows for a great deal of variety in the subject matter and tone of the various adventures, and doesn't require the reader to keep track of a single epic quest of some sort. Rather, we have a great variety of antic and engaging adventures. Think of Sinbad, Aladdin, Robin Hood. I can see that working especially well for a younger reader.
This really is classic children's' lit, in all of the very best ways. It's a delight to have it, and other Dragt books, available for new, modern readers.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
Do you remember those old-school books about hard working urchins, honest orphans, trustworthy Boy Scouts, and Horatio Alger strivers? They imparted gentle moral lessons embedded in ripping adventures. Well, this most recent translation of another Tonke Dragt classic from the Netherlands will transport you back to those days of thrilling adventure, mischief and humor.
This time we have two twin brothers trying to find their ways in the world. Their paths cross, separate, and recross through a series of clever episodes that eventually circle around to a happy and satisfying ending for all concerned. Along the way each brother learns about the world, about himself, and about the enduring bonds of fraternal love and loyalty.
The setting is vaguely medieval, so this is not a tale of making one's way in the modern world. Rather, we have a simpler, more basic, more traditional world canvas upon which to lay out the brothers' tales. That puts the focus on the characters and personalities of the brothers and of the various sorts of people they meet, and allows for crisp, clear and direct story telling.
After an intro chapter in which we meet the mischievous young brothers, the book progresses as twelve distinct but interrelated episodes or tales. This is perfect for a young reader, with nicely placed breaks and resolutions. It also allows for a great deal of variety in the subject matter and tone of the various adventures, and doesn't require the reader to keep track of a single epic quest of some sort. Rather, we have a great variety of antic and engaging adventures. Think of Sinbad, Aladdin, Robin Hood. I can see that working especially well for a younger reader.
This really is classic children's' lit, in all of the very best ways. It's a delight to have it, and other Dragt books, available for new, modern readers.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
March 12, 2020
‘The Goldsmith and the Master Thief’ is a collection of stories, one following on from another, in which Jiacomo and Laurenzo, identical twins, one a skilled jewellery maker and one with questionable skills but no profession, capitalise on their striking similarity in their various adventures to create confusion and outrage as well as to solve mysteries and engineer daring escapes. The multiple cases of mistaken identity entail, among other fiascos, both brothers being crowned king of the same island, cunningly evading house arrest and incarceration in palace dungeons, and trying to avoid the inevitable confusion when they each fall in love. Throughout, run themes of loyalty , honesty, and what it is to have integrity even when faced with great temptation. The subject of two brothers, their love for one another, and their steadfastness despite the different courses they have chosen in life and the consequential differences in their standing in the community, is one not often tackled in childrens’ fiction, and therefore all the more worth the reading.
The translation, I found to be clunky in places – the mix of language and turn of phrase is mostly in keeping with the traditional folk genre to which the book belongs, but occasional inconsistencies and modern turns of phrase are glaringly out of place. Nevertheless, this is the sort of rare find seldom equalled in contemporary children’s fiction; simple stories, well executed, with clever denouements and twists of fate – extremely wholesome and enjoyable. I’m intrigued by Tonke Dragt’s other writing, also published by Pushkin in their bid to translate and bring to English-reading audiences children’s fiction from around the world, and will definitely be adding them to my list of books to be read!
The translation, I found to be clunky in places – the mix of language and turn of phrase is mostly in keeping with the traditional folk genre to which the book belongs, but occasional inconsistencies and modern turns of phrase are glaringly out of place. Nevertheless, this is the sort of rare find seldom equalled in contemporary children’s fiction; simple stories, well executed, with clever denouements and twists of fate – extremely wholesome and enjoyable. I’m intrigued by Tonke Dragt’s other writing, also published by Pushkin in their bid to translate and bring to English-reading audiences children’s fiction from around the world, and will definitely be adding them to my list of books to be read!
May 27, 2020
This Dutch tale by Tonke Dragt, originally published in 1961, and translated by Laura Watkinson is pure delight from start to finish! The book is a series of adventures of identical twin brothers, Laurenzo and Jiacomo. A cross between a well-loved fairy tale and the merry adventures of Robin Hood, this pair manage to use their wits to escape every villain and misadventure that befalls them.
Each adventure is like a mini-book and will keep children entertained. Readers will wonder how the brothers can possibly land on their feet time and time again. And while one is hard-working and the other more footloose and fancy-free, the one thing that is true for both is their love and unwavering loyalty to one another.
When the last tale was told, I was sad that it had come to end but it was such a wonderful ending, one could hardly be sad. Each chapter was more exciting than the last and each came to the most satisfactory and clever end. I highly recommend this book either as a family read aloud (great book to take along on a car trip!) or a read alone for any age.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Goldsmoth and the Master Thief from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed are my own.
Each adventure is like a mini-book and will keep children entertained. Readers will wonder how the brothers can possibly land on their feet time and time again. And while one is hard-working and the other more footloose and fancy-free, the one thing that is true for both is their love and unwavering loyalty to one another.
When the last tale was told, I was sad that it had come to end but it was such a wonderful ending, one could hardly be sad. Each chapter was more exciting than the last and each came to the most satisfactory and clever end. I highly recommend this book either as a family read aloud (great book to take along on a car trip!) or a read alone for any age.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Goldsmoth and the Master Thief from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed are my own.
May 3, 2023
Dit is het eerste boek dat Tonke Dragt schreef en het eerste dat ik van haar las. Een aangename kennismaking! Het zijn twaalf sprookjesachtige verhalen over de tweelingbroers Laurenzo en Jiacomo die als twee druppels op elkaar lijken. De verhalen spelen zich in chronologische volgorde.van hun kindertijd tot hun volwassenwording af. Ze beleven allerlei avonturen waarbij ze vaak op listige wijze van hun onderlinge gelijkenis gebruik weten te maken. Laurenzo wordt een beroemde edelsmid, Giacomo gaat zich eerst bekwamen als inbreker maar krijgt daar later spijt van. De broers blijven elkaar trouw door dik en dun, maar ze hebben toch ook duidelijk te onderscheiden karakters. De verhalen zijn vol spanning geschreven. Tonke Dragt liet zich inspireren door sprookjes en volksverhalen uit de wereldliteratuur. Het boek is voor wat grotere kinderen en voor volwassenen heel goed te lezen. Nergens is het taalgebruik overigens kinderachtig. Beide broers komen in de loop van de verhalen hun liefde tegen, nadat er allerlei misverstanden uit de wereld zijn geholpen. Een kleine feministische vingerwijzing van de auteur: zij spreekt zich uit tegen gedwongen, gearrangeerde huwelijken over de hoofden van jonge vrouwen heen. Vijf sterren voor een heerlijk boek.
September 11, 2023
I enjoyed Dragt's THE LETTER FOR THE KING and THE SECRETS OF THE WILD WOOD an unexpected amount, once I got past the first stumbling block of the writing style. The prose in GOLDSMITH... is equally simple and minimalist; it reads like a fairytale being told to you (and not just because I was experiencing it via audiobook) and is therefore purposefully old-fashioned, so you have to be okay with that going in. Dragt sets the tone with her first story, where the birth of the twin heroes is foreshadowed by the arrival of a pair of dogs, a pair of kittens, and a pair of doves, each pairing "as alike as two drops of water" (these animals don't play a significant role in the rest of the book, alas! But at least they never come to any harm) - the fact that this is unbelievable tells you right away that this is going to be a whimsical book full of fantastic stories.
Like any good fairytale, the stories are all about good and bad, and the good and the bad are clearly delineated: not much moral grayness here, though there are some characters who end up just needing to be brought into line or reformed a bit. Many of the stories deal in some way with Laurenzo and/or Jiacomo, the twin brothers, proving their integrity in adverse circumstances (but never too adverse: the worst we get is the threat of the gallows). But the stories are also full of fun, cleverness, and often a bit of trickery (especially when Jiacomo, our master thief, is involved). Many of them involve the fact that no one can tell the brothers apart, which usually, though not always, ends up being part of the problem or the solution.
I didn't enjoy all the stories equally, and there were places where my interest flagged. The final story I thought was the best, since it brings Jiacomo's skills to the fore, has a good sprinkling of humor, and finishes the collection of stories off very satisfyingly. But the whole book is charming; I could see it being a great read-aloud for young kids.
Like any good fairytale, the stories are all about good and bad, and the good and the bad are clearly delineated: not much moral grayness here, though there are some characters who end up just needing to be brought into line or reformed a bit. Many of the stories deal in some way with Laurenzo and/or Jiacomo, the twin brothers, proving their integrity in adverse circumstances (but never too adverse: the worst we get is the threat of the gallows). But the stories are also full of fun, cleverness, and often a bit of trickery (especially when Jiacomo, our master thief, is involved). Many of them involve the fact that no one can tell the brothers apart, which usually, though not always, ends up being part of the problem or the solution.
I didn't enjoy all the stories equally, and there were places where my interest flagged. The final story I thought was the best, since it brings Jiacomo's skills to the fore, has a good sprinkling of humor, and finishes the collection of stories off very satisfyingly. But the whole book is charming; I could see it being a great read-aloud for young kids.
May 14, 2020
You know when you buy a book and mean to read it, and keep meaning to read it, but never quite get round to it, and then it’s adapted for TV and you realise that you’ve missed the moment, and that now whenever you read it people will assume you’ve only read it because you’d seen it on Netflix? Yep. That’s happened to me with Tonke Dragt’s story The Letter for the King, so I was keen to get ahead with her novel The Goldsmith and the Master Thief. I should emphasise that this is a children’s story and it’s written as such: there are no winks or extra layers of meaning aimed at adults, just a good old-fashioned fable which follows the adventures of two very different (and yet very similar) brothers. Cynics need not apply: in this world, duplicity is always punished, the misguided mend their ways, and the pure of heart are always rewarded. Reading it feels like a deliciously self-indulgent step back in time, to the days when life was simpler...
For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2020/05/02/t...
For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2020/05/02/t...
March 14, 2021
Twins Jiacomo and Laurenzo want to work together, but everywhere they ask, only one position is open, so they decide to each go a different path and meet again in a year.
This reads like a fairy tale. It's starts off with their parents being visited by a pair of dogs, a pair of kittens and a pair of pidgeons shortly before their child is due to be born, and then - surprise! - instead of one child, twins are born.
You could read each chapter as it's own, there are only minor details that are relevant for the future story. I think this would be perfect as a good night story, one chapter each day.
I liked this, the only problem I had was that it's quite repetitve with the plans the twins come up with. It's not meant to be read mostly in one sitting, which I had planned to do. But that is my fault, and my planning, not this book.
Regarding the content matter: This is set in a world that feels Italian, with the names and all, but this is not fantasy. There is no magic in this, apart from the story telling.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
This reads like a fairy tale. It's starts off with their parents being visited by a pair of dogs, a pair of kittens and a pair of pidgeons shortly before their child is due to be born, and then - surprise! - instead of one child, twins are born.
You could read each chapter as it's own, there are only minor details that are relevant for the future story. I think this would be perfect as a good night story, one chapter each day.
I liked this, the only problem I had was that it's quite repetitve with the plans the twins come up with. It's not meant to be read mostly in one sitting, which I had planned to do. But that is my fault, and my planning, not this book.
Regarding the content matter: This is set in a world that feels Italian, with the names and all, but this is not fantasy. There is no magic in this, apart from the story telling.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
March 15, 2024
At first glance, this book looks like a collection of short stories, but it is a novel that pulls everything together, from humble beginnings, to double-challenges for our two heroes. That’s the strong tension that pulls the whole story together—will they be heroes? What will they choose? Will they stay true to each other?
It all begins when twin boys are born to a poor cobbler and his wife.
“We don’t have any money for christening gifts,” said their parents, “but we’ll still give them something. They shall each have a puppy, a kitten and a pigeon. Don’t we make a lovely family?”
A warm and surprisingly twisty tale!
What's also amazing about this book, from the author of A Letter for the King, is that it was written in a prisoner-of-war camp when the author was a young girl. There's no touch of darkness or depression or anxiety in the story--it is an epic story with characters who care about purity of heart.
It all begins when twin boys are born to a poor cobbler and his wife.
“We don’t have any money for christening gifts,” said their parents, “but we’ll still give them something. They shall each have a puppy, a kitten and a pigeon. Don’t we make a lovely family?”
A warm and surprisingly twisty tale!
What's also amazing about this book, from the author of A Letter for the King, is that it was written in a prisoner-of-war camp when the author was a young girl. There's no touch of darkness or depression or anxiety in the story--it is an epic story with characters who care about purity of heart.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews