The Thief Lord

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The Thief Lord Pub. Date: 11/14/2005 Publisher: Gale Group

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The Thief Lord Pub. Date: 5/16/2005 Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

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The Thief Lord (Reprint) Pub. Date: 10/1/2003 Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
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The Thief Lord (1 AMER ED) Pub. Date: 8/12/2002 Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

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Thief Lord (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Library Binding - THIS EDITION IS INTENDED FOR USE IN SCHO) Pub. Date: 5/28/2010 Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval

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The Thief Lord (Library Binding) Pub. Date: 10/28/2003 Publisher: Perfection Learning Corporation
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The Thief Lord (MP3 - Unabridged) Pub. Date: 6/27/2006 Publisher: Listening Library, Inc.

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The Thief Lord (Cassette - Unabridged, 5 cassettes, 8 hrs. 30 min.) Pub. Date: 9/17/2002 Publisher: Random House Audio Publishing Group

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The Thief Lord (Cassette - Unabridged) Pub. Date: 9/17/2002 Publisher: Listening Library, Inc.

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Overview

An exciting, magical adventure set among the crumbling canals and ancient ruins of Venice, Italy.

Prosper and Bo are orphans on the run from their cruel aunt and uncle. The brothers decide to hide out in Venice, where they meet a mysterious character who calls himself the "Thief Lord." Brilliant and charismatic, the Thief Lord leads a ring of street children who dabble in petty crimes. Prosper and Bo relish being part of this colorful new family. But the Thief Lord has secrets of his own. And soon the boys are thrust into circumstances that will lead them, and readers, to a fantastic, spellbinding conclusion.

Escaping the aunt who wants to adopt only one of them, two orphaned brothers run away from Hamburg to Venice, finding shelter with a gang of street children and their leader, the thirteen-year-old "Thief Lord," while also eluding the detective hired to return them to Germany.

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
Cornelia Funke's international award-winning novel, The Thief Lord took Europe by storm and lands on this shore with widespread acclaim. Filled with plenty of mood and colorful characters, this suspenseful tale marks the American debut of a wonderful talent.

Set in modern-day Venice, the book follows a troupe of runaways who partake in theft and resell their goods to a local shopkeeper. Two members -- Prosper and his little brother, Bo -- are being followed by Victor, a detective hired by their mean aunt, but luckily, they and the other kids are watched over by the gang's mysterious and self-assured leader, Scipio (the Thief Lord). As the kids have several run-ins with the sleuth, they're also focused on Scipio's new job to steal a precious wooden carousel wing. Yet when they discover a few skeletons in the Thief Lord's closet and befriend Victor, they realize there is more to their fantastic world than meets the eye.

Filled with strong characters and old-world charm, this engrossing read has a plotline that won't leave you bored. Several stories are interwoven with grace and suspense, and the ending brings them all together with a breath of satisfaction. Although the real magic comes only toward the end, Venice provides a spellbinding backdrop that will have you feeling as if you're riding in gondolas and dodging tourists in St. Mark's Square. An adventure with subtle themes of being mature and doing the right thing,The Thief Lord is molto magnifico! Matt Warner

Alice Stroup

What is shocking in the case of "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke, one of Germany's most popular kiddie-lit writers, is that the book lives up to the audacious claim. It's got the magic, the adventure, the awkward boy heroes and the plucky chick sidekick. It's even been edited by Barry Cunningham, the man who "discovered" Rowling and published the Harry Potter series in England. But "Thief Lord" is also just a darn good yarn - the charming tale of a band of urchin-thieves, a magical carousel and two orphaned brothers. Written in German, set in Italy and now translated into English, the postmodern fairy tale was just released in Britain, where it sold out in 10 days. In September, it'll arrive in the States with the British vernacular largely intact. "You don't have to Americanize everything for children to understand it," Cunningham says. "I find that quite condescending." Besides, the whole European vibe sure worked for Harry.
— Newsweek

More Reviews (7) Fewer Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Wacky characters bring energy to this translation of an entertaining German novel about thieving children, a disguise-obsessed detective and a magical merry-go-round. After their mother dies, 12-year-old Prosper and his brother, Bo, five, flee from Hamburg to Venice (an awful aunt plans to adopt only Bo). They live in an abandoned movie theater with several other street children under the care of the Thief Lord, a cocky youth who claims to rob "the city's most elegant houses." A mysterious man hires the Thief Lord to steal a wooden wing, which the kids later learn has broken off a long-lost merry-go-round said to make "adults out of children and children out of adults," but the plan alters when Victor, the detective Aunt Esther hired to track the brothers, discovers their camp and reveals that the Thief Lord is actually from a wealthy family. There are a lot of story lines to follow, and the pacing is sometimes off (readers may feel that Funke spends too little time on what happens when the children find the carousel, and too much on the ruse they pull on Prosper's aunt). But between kindhearted Victor and his collection of fake beards, the Thief Lord in his mask and high-heeled boots, and a rascally street kid who loves to steal, Prosper's new world abounds with colorful characters. The Venetian setting is ripe for mystery and the city's alleys and canals ratchet up the suspense in the chase scenes. Ages 9-12. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

From The Critics

Cornelia Funke is a popular German author whose novel The Thief Lord marks her debut in the United States. Brought to the English-reading world by the original publisher of J. K. Rowling, The Thief Lord creates a wonderfully rich tale of mystery and magic with theme, plot, character, and setting marvelously entwined by this skilled writer. Recently orphaned, twelve-year-old Prosper and his five-year-old brother Bo are on the run from their aunt. She wishes to adopt little Bo but intends to send Prosper away to boarding school. In a desperate attempt to stay together, the boys have escaped from Hamburg to Venice, the city their late mother described in her bedtime stories. They are rescued by a gang of street urchins who follow the instructions of a mysterious youth who calls himself the Thief Lord. All of the children find their longing for belonging satisfied by the caring community they have established in an abandoned movie theatre. However, their security is as illusory as the films that once flickered on the tattered screen. A quirky, well-meaning detective uncovers the truth of the Thief Lord, and the revelation destroys the trust that bound the group together. In the novel, Venice is more than setting. Its mystique and lore become another character, contributing to the plot and providing the impetus for the magical resolution which flows naturally from the legends of the ancient city. Funke's chapter drawings and reference maps add to the charm of the tale and enrich the strong sense of place that pervades the story. In the end, the children must unite with sympathetic adults in a quest to not only protect Prosper and Bo but also to provide the sanctity and security each of themdesires. The theme of belonging expands until it transforms into the nature of childhood itself, and the Thief Lord must make the ultimate steal in an attempt to find his place in the world. Intelligently written and plotted, The Thief Lord is a story in which the fantastic illustrates the value of our common, day-to-day relationships with family and friends. The novel has the power to spark the imagination of young readers for years to come. 2002, Scholastic,
— Mark deCastrique

From The Critics

Venice is a city of beauty, mystery, and plenty of secrets. Prosper and Bo are brothers who come to Venice to escape their terrible aunt Esther. They soon join a gang of street children determined to make their own living in the shadows of everyday Venice life—with the help of each other and their mysterious leader, the Thief Lord. While the practice of petty crime keeps the group alive, temptation becomes unbearable when a secretive client offers the Thief Lord a burglary challenge he cannot refuse. At the same time, a hidden danger draws near. A detective, paid by Esther to hunt down Proper and Bo, is on the brink of discovering the Thief Lord's hideout. Yearning only for a better life, the children begin the commission that will change their lives forever, and will set the Thief Lord to his hardest trial yet. This novel, translated from the original German text, is full of delightful characters and creative plot line twists. Funke's imagination touches the adventurous parts of the heart, as well as the simple human desire to belong and be loved. This story is pure magic. 2002, Scholastic, 349 pp.,
— Laura Schmidt

KLIATT

This novel about runaways in Venice, Italy, has been a best seller in Germany and has won literary prizes there and in Austria and Switzerland. It isn't really a YA novel, but is instead a sometimes demanding children's book, filled with adventure and a bit of magic. It's demanding because it's rather long and filled with details about Venice, which may be hard for many middle school students. Still, I'm sure there will be students in 5th through 8th grade who will appreciate the European nature of the story. There are many characters, and the adults are nearly as well realized as the children (an odd circumstance in children's literature). One main character is a miserable rich boy whose father either ignores him or demands too much of him. So Scipio—the Thief Lord—makes his life more exciting by befriending a group of children who are homeless runaways. Scipio finds them a place to stay in an abandoned cinema. Included in the runaways are two brothers, Prosper and Bo, orphans hiding from their aunt. This aunt hires a detective named Victor to find the boys, but when Victor does locate them, his sympathies lie with the boys and not with their aunt. The plot just gets more and more convoluted, with numerous other characters, planned thefts, a connection with an orphanage run by Catholic nuns in Venice, a magical carousel that will change a child to an adult or an adult to a child (you can imagine that some of the characters take advantage of this escape), and much more. The action rolls along in short chapters, each illustrated with a small pen-and-ink illustration of a locale in Venice. The vocabulary is somewhat demanding, with Italian words thrown in for atmosphere, but some YAs willcertainly enjoy this challenge. It is possible that it would appeal to readers of the Harry Potter stories. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: J—Recommended for junior high school students. 2000, Scholastic, The Chicken House, 345p. map.,
— Claire Rosser; KLIATT

VOYA

This German best-selling children's author creates a delightful tale that borrows a little from Oliver Twist and a bit from the magic of the Harry Potter books. A good-hearted private investigator is hired by a somewhat villainous couple to find their orphaned nephews. Fearing that the couple will separate them and actually only want them for their inheritance, the boys have run away to Venice, where they have the good fortune to fall amongst a tight group of street urchins, who often make ends meet through petty theft and cons. They live comfortably in an abandoned theater, benefactors of a mysterious masked boy who calls himself the Thief Lord. He often supplies them with food and expensive goods to hock. Life gets complicated when the children are hired by a sinister old man to retrieve a wooden wing from an old woman's home just as the investigator discovers the hideaway. What is the secret of the wing? Who is the old woman? All is resolved as the Thief Lord is unmasked, the boys outwit their aunt with the help of the PI, and the wing is restored to its mystical origins with some dire consequences. The magical city of Venice is used to full advantage. The characters are richly and realistically drawn-the good guys are not always good and the bad not really so bad. This satisfying, twisting tale is for upper elementary readers who enjoy a dab of magic surrounded by a charming story. VOYA Codes: 5Q 4P M J (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2002 (orig. 2000), Scholastic, 349p,
— Kevin Beach

School Library Journal

Gr 6-8-Actor Simon Jones does an excellent job of giving voice to Cornelia Funke's mystery adventure tale which has won several European children's literature awards (Scholastic, 2002). This Dickensian story begins in modern times in detective Victor Getz's office in Venice as he is asked to search for Esther Hartlieb's orphaned nephews, Prosper and Bo, who ran away when they learned Esther was going to adopt five-year-old Bo but send Prosper away to a boarding school. The boys came to Venice because their dead mother had often lovingly described the beauties of the city to them. They wind up in an abandoned movie theater with other runaways who are working for Scipio, a young boy they call the "Thief Lord." The evil Barbarossa who accepts their stolen goods asks them to steal a special broken wooden wing that came from an old, magical merry-go-round which can transport riders backward or forward in time. The plot is full of twists and surprises, and the characters are vividly described. The excellent descriptive passages make it easy to picture the characters and setting. Loyalty, honor among thieves, and whether it's better to be an adult or a child are some of the themes explored in this fast-paced, spellbinding tale.-Diane Balodis, Alden Intermediate School, NY Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

When the orphans Prosper, 12, and Boniface, 5, run away from Hamburg to Venice to escape separation by their aunt and uncle Hartlieb, the crotchety, childless couple hires private detective Victor Getz to find Bo, the only brother they want. Prop and Bo feel at home with their new comrades (three other orphans who survive by picking pockets, but are otherwise harmless) in an abandoned movie theater. Their ringleader, the mysterious Thief Lord, appears from time to time with stolen riches that he gives to his poor friends. Harrowing and comical escapades abound when the Thief Lord accepts a job that will leave him and his friends financially secure-to steal a wing from a wooden lion statue. This wing, which belongs to the unconventional, kindhearted photographer Ida Spavento, is no ordinary piece of wood, but rather the missing piece to a hidden, magical merry-go-round rumored to turn children into adults and adults into children. As the children win over Ida, and even Victor, this new band of outcasts rescues one another from perilous events and scheming villains; ventures to the bewitched Secret Isle from which, as more rumors have it, no one ever returns; finds the missing merry-go-round; and creates the perfect solution. The magical city of Venice, with its moonlit waters, maze of canals, and magnificent palaces, is an excellent setting for the plot twists and turns in this fantasy/mystery/adventure, all rolled into one spellbinding story. A bestselling author in Germany, who has reached the US for the first time, Funke delights readers in the feelings of childhood, what it feels like to be innocent, afraid, curious, and safe; need friends and love; and want independence yet also to becared for. Although the core of this tale is heartwarming, the merry-go-round, like Ray Bradbury's carousel in Something Wicked This Way Comes, hints at darkness, leaving its riders and the novel's readers changed forever. (map, glossary, not seen) (Fiction. 10-14)

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780439420891
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date: 10/1/2003
Edition description: Reprint
Pages: 349
Age range: 9 - 12 Years
Lexile: 0640L (what's this?)
Product dimensions: 5.18 (w) x 7.62 (h) x 0.91 (d)

Meet the Author

Cornelia Funke

Cornelia Funke is the author of the bestselling novels Dragon Rider, The Thief Lord, Inkheart, and Inkspell, all available on audio from Listening Library. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

Biography

One of the most successful children's authors of our day, multi-award-winner Cornelia Funke started out as a social worker focused on the needs of disadvantaged youngsters. She enrolled in a post-graduate course at the Hamburg State College of Design, and left social work in the mid-1980s to begin a career as a children's book illustrator. However, the books she was commissioned to work on were prosaic and unimaginative, and she soon decided to try her hand at writing stories of her own.

An ardent fan of such childhood classics as Tolkien's Ring Trilogy and the tales of C. S. Lewis and J. M. Barrie, Funke was naturally drawn to the world of fantasy. She explained her attraction in a 2006 interview with the genre blog Writer Unboxed: " [T]he wonderful thing about fantasy is that it is the oldest way of story telling -- to clad what we feel and fear into disguises and make them more clear, to pass the borders of our every day life and use our imagination for travels into unknown worlds and unlimited experiences."

Although Funke was an immediate success in her native Germany, she was largely unknown outside Europe -- that is, until a young bilingual fan wrote to a British publishing firm inquiring why her favorite author's books were not available in English. The publisher hunted down what was, at the time, Funke's most recent book (The Thief Lord) and, in 2002, published it in translation. Already the recipient of several literary honors in Europe, the engaging YA fantasy went on to win the 2002 Book Sense Book of the Year Award.

One by one, as they are translated into English and published in America, Funke's wonderful stories have become huge bestsellers. Her ingenuity, imagination, and artistry shine in stand-alone novels like Dragon Rider and the Inkworld Trilogy -- Inkheart (2003), Inkspell (2005), and Inkdeath (2008). She has also produced picture books for younger readers, including The Wildest Brother, Pirate Girl, and Princess Knight. Fans who worry that this natural-born storyteller will run out of ideas can take solace in an author interview conducted in 2008 by Britain's Daily Telegraph. Asked if she had many more books in mind, Funke replied, "Oh yes, I am quite sure I won't be able to write them all down in a lifetime."

Good To Know

In German, Funke means "spark."

In 2005, Time magazine named Cornelia Funke among its "100 Most Influential Men and Women."

Funke claims to have written her popular Ghosthunters series "for boys who don't like to read."

When asked if she writes in German or English, Funke replied in a 2008 interview in The Washington Post: "I write in German. I've practiced this language for 47 years. I will never be a master in any other language. Anthea Bell, an old lady with cats, does the translation. She's amazing, and her translations are very, very true to my language."

1. Hometown:
  
  Los Angeles, CA
1. Date of Birth:
  
  December 10, 1958
2. Place of Birth:
  
  Dorsten, Germany
1. Education:
  
  University of Hamburg

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Reads_a_lot

Posted January 5, 2009

I Also Recommend:

FANTASTIC book!

Okay, I kind of ruined it for myself by watching the movie first! However, the movie was great, just READ THE BOOK FIRST!
The book was great too, I love Cornelia Funke as an author. I strongly recommend any of her books. Especially, Igraine the Brave, the Inkheart trilogy, and Dragon Rider.
If Prosper were real, I'd marry him! :)

6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Artemis15

Posted March 17, 2009

I Liked the Descriptions...

The descriptions in the book were phenomenal, such as, 'The moon hung high above the city as Prosper rushed out of the theater. The alley's lay empty and grew wisps of fog that floated eerily over the canals.'

I just like the way Cornelia Funke ties in her descriptions with the action parts of the book, or the slow parts of the book, or for any part of the book for that matter. Without these little tid-bits of descriptive material, then there would be only dialogue, as most books do have. Descriptive writing is what makes up any book, especially this one. I like the character development as well; at first I didn't even know the slightest information about them besides their names, such as Hornet, Bo, Prosper, Mosca, Riccio, Scipio, and many more. By the end of the book, I felt like I had a one on one connection with all of the characters because gradually, Cornelia developed her characters into their personal stories, such as their real name's or where they were actually from. Although very boring at times, this book is a good read for all age groups, I recommend this to all.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted March 2, 2009

Sorry, I liked the Ink series better, this was slower, but still okay.

The book was more realistic than I expected, given her other books, and the characters were not as well drawn, but the ending was more interesting and exciting. Overall, it was acceptable becuase the central conceit was interesting. Something to read when there is nothing else on the shelf.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted February 24, 2009

GOOD BOOK!

This book is really good. It kept me absorbed, I didn't want to put it down! Cornelia Funke is a great writer, I could tell from this book. I dont like alot of books it is hard for me to find a book that i really like, but this one I really liked. I really liked the story about the runaway kids and the Venice parts, like when Cornelia describes Italy and the places like the winged lions.I felt like i was really seeing them.
Cornelia Funke is a great author and I recomend these other books, the Inkheart series (Inkheart, Inkspell, and Inkdeath) and the Harry Potter series, also the Warrior series.

3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Alex96AR

Posted April 9, 2009

more from this reviewer

I Also Recommend:

It makes you want to talk about to ANYONE

Its about this group of kids who live in a theater and Scipio who is the leader steals all the supplies they need and some extras so that they can sell it in town for a low profit. In this enchanting tale of magic and thievery you will not be able to let this book leave your side until you get to the amazing ending which trust me is something that you will remember for a very long time. Great for all ages and a must read for anyone who loves thrilling suspense and mysterious characters.

2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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christy_wooke

Posted November 9, 2008

more from this reviewer

..

Loved this until the ending. The book was so so wonderful, and then all of a sudden near the end, a magic carousel is introduced out of nowhere...? BUT definitely worth the read.

2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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ars831

Posted February 20, 2011

I Also Recommend:

HORRIBLE

This is VERY slow-moving and boring! I'm surprsed though because Cornelia Funke is an AMAZING writer. I LOVED the Inkheart trilogy!!!!

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted December 29, 2008

An amazing book

this an amazing book! I don't think anyone could out do Cornelia Funke with this outstanding work of literature. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes twists and be captured by a book. The Theif Lord is definately one of my favorites books!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted July 9, 2007

A reviewer

I was VERY disappointed since I very much enjoyed Inkheart and Dragon Rider. I was waiting during the whole book for the plot to actually warm up, and it never did! I liked a lot of the other books by Cornelia Funke and suggest the author to you, but this book was one of the least enjoyable books that I have ever read!!!

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted December 17, 2006

poor

Too slow got to about the 20th page and couldn't keep reading it. Inkheart and Inkspell were great books so i was disappointed with Funke.I thought I would get more out of the book.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted January 20, 2007

bad

One of the worst books that i have ever read. It was slow, stupid, didnt make much sense, I mean magical merry-go-round? Honestly wat was Cornelia thinking?

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted August 14, 2006

Don't bother unless you have absolutely nothing else to do with your time...

This book is perhaps amusing to younger readers -or dull children with no imagination, however it failed to capture my attention. I was pulled in by the enticing summary, but all i got was a droning plot in which there are hardly any real conflicts or character development, and what should be a climax is nothing more than another event. it seems like the author just stopped writing and capped it off with 'the end'. a fluffy waste of time... go watch a movie or something.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted February 27, 2005

Mediocre pace and half believable storyline!

The story is somewhat different from other stories of the same genre. That Funke is a competent author is unquestionable but the pace of the book hardly gathers steam from beginning to the dismal end. I look with askance at other reviews, which gush milk and honey over the book, for regrettably The Thief Lord pales in comparison to Eragon or any Harry Potter book. In fact the so called magical merry go around with its age altering capacity is introduced timidly and there was no built up to this magical phenomenon hence the whole instance is incongruous. The writer of such kind of books must make the reader believe the existence of supernatural as amply proved in Harry Potter or Eragon. Funke fails this test most miserably and I would recommend her other books with sincere trepidation!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted April 26, 2004

not as good as expected

I was very disappointed with this book, I found it to be dull and uninteresting. It lacked depth and originality. The magic, the professional reviewers promise, is not to be found in The Theif Lord

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted December 31, 2003

Thief Lord

The Thief Lord is by far one of the best books I¿ve ever read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fiction books that you absolutely can¿t put down. It is a great book of fantasy with a twist of sorrow and humor. The Thief Lord is one book that no one will not finish in less than a week. Those who read the thief lord will too be trapped into the splendid fantasy of runaway children.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted August 23, 2003

Been there, done that

The story takes too much time and wasted too many pages before it went anywhere remotely interesting. The descriptions of Venice were never vivid enough for me and I never felt as if I were there among the watery canals. To add insult to injury of a bad plot, the characters were trite, boring, and I couldn't care less what happened to them. I can't stand not to finish books, so I had to struggle along at a snail's pace reading page after page of repetitive situations and annoying characters. If you must, borrow it from a library and give it a shot. Do not waste your money buying this one.

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted May 24, 2012

Awesome

Read it -worth every cent!
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Anonymous

Posted May 16, 2012

I

I...LOVE IT!! GREAT MY SENCOUND FAV BOOK BY HER NEXT TO INKHEART
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Anonymous

Posted April 18, 2012

The thief lord

For some reason i hav become a book critic after getting my nook so i am rating this book cuz it is awesome and detective like i also like this book because the main character is about my ag so it is cool
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Anonymous

Posted April 14, 2012

Thethieflord

This book is sooo good. You should really read it. It is very exciting it is about two orphans who runaway and end up in venice..then they meet the thief lord and find a hideout. It is very good and it makes u want to jump out of ur seat.
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The Thief Lord

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Cornelia Funke

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FANTASTIC book!

I Liked the Descriptions...

Sorry, I liked the Ink series better, this was slower, but still okay.

GOOD BOOK!

It makes you want to talk about to ANYONE

..

HORRIBLE

An amazing book

A reviewer

poor

bad

Don't bother unless you have absolutely nothing else to do with your time...

Mediocre pace and half believable storyline!

not as good as expected

Thief Lord

Been there, done that

Awesome

I

The thief lord

Thethieflord