The King of the Golden River is a tale of the Black brothers- the kind, eleven year-old Gluck and his two nasty older brothers, Hans and Schwartz. For Gluck, play is cleaning the floors, and his education consists of a wholesome quantity of punches. One stormy evening, Gluck is left at home to prepare dinner for his older brothers when an extraordinary looking little man knocks at the door. Having been warned not to let anyone in, Gluck watches as the little old man stands drenched and shivering at the door. His soft heart tells him to ignore his brothers’ advice, and so Gluck encounters the mysterious King of the Golden River. At first the King appeared as a beggar, then the Southwest Wind, and finally as a dwarf. The King of the Golden River challenges Gluck to climb to the source of the Golden River and throw into the stream three drops of holy water. If he is able to do this, the river will turn to gold.Ruskin’s Victorian tale, first published in 1842, of good’s triumph over evil is a gripping adventure for all ages, and is brought vividly to life in new, never-before- seen illustrations by the celebrated Quentin Blake.35 color illustrations.