A String in the Harp
| Company type | Children's fantasy novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Nancy Bond |
| Products | Novel |
A String in the Harp is a children's fantasy novel authored by Nancy Bond, initially released in 1976. It received a 1977 Newbery Honor alongside the Welsh Tir na n-Og Award. The narrative follows the American Morgan family during their temporary relocation to Wales, where Peter Morgan uncovers a magical harp key that grants him vivid glimpses into the past. This unique time-travel tale explores the family's emotional challenges and recovery following their mother's passing.
Plot summary
The story centers on the Morgan family from America as they settle in Wales. Following Mrs. Morgan’s death, the family moves from Boston in accordance with her wishes. The plot begins a year afterward, when their daughter Jen arrives from America to spend Christmas with them.
Mr. Morgan occupies a short-term teaching role at the University of Aberystwyth and resides with his two younger children in a coastal village nearby. Jen perceives their residence as chilly and unwelcoming, noticing her siblings' unhappiness and their father's emotional distance. She convinces him to allow her to remain in Wales instead of finishing high school in America, complementing her studies with demanding reading tasks.
Peter Morgan, dissatisfied with life in Wales, becomes fascinated by a harp-tuning key he discovers along the shore, previously owned by the Celtic bard Taliesin. The key’s subtle enchantment enables Peter—and eventually his family—to witness visions of Taliesin’s existence, including an ancient conflict on Borth Bog. They also observe a she-wolf trapped during a hunt, despite wolves having been extinct in Wales for some time.
John Owen from the National Museum becomes aware of the key and attempts to obtain it for museum collection. Nevertheless, Peter believes it should be returned to Taliesin. Ultimately, he finds Taliesin’s hidden burial site and restores the key, bringing the story to a close.
Setting
The main location is Borth, a seaside village close to Aberystwyth. Additional scenes take place in modern-day Aberystwyth, Cardiff, and sixth-century Britain.
Characters
- Jennifer Morgan, a 15-year-old girl from America
- Peter Morgan, her 12-year-old brother
- Becky Morgan, their 10-year-old sister
- David Morgan, their widowed father and university English instructor
- Mrs. Davies, an English-born neighbor who operates a bed and breakfast
- Gwilym Davies, her school-age son and keen birdwatcher, friend to the Morgans
- Rhian Evans, Becky’s Welsh school friend raised on a sheep farm in the hills
- Dr. Gwyn Rhys, Director of Welsh Studies at University of Aberystwyth and colleague of David
- Dr. John Owen of the National Museum in Cardiff
Historical figures
- Taliesin, a Welsh bard from the 6th century
- Aneirin, companion and guide to Taliesin
- Elphin Rheged, student of Taliesin and son of Urien Rheged
- Gwyddno Garanhir, ruler of Ceredigion and patron to Taliesin
- Maelgwn Gwynedd, king of Gwynedd
Background
Nancy Bond commenced writing A String in the Harp while searching for employment after returning to the U.S. from graduate librarian studies in Aberystwyth. She incorporated elements from her own life experiences, remarking that "the American family notices and adjusts to the same things I did." Although initially not intending to write fantasy—viewing herself as a realist—the narrative gradually took on fantasy aspects. Elizabeth Briggs observes that authors outside Wales frequently incorporate Welsh mythology to develop fantastical themes. Bond selected Taliesin’s story to authentically introduce Welsh history and root the fantasy elements in reality. His connection to the area helped communicate Wales’ historical richness to an American readership.
The harp key functions as a magical object that triggers visionary experiences for Peter and others, linking various story threads. Taliesin was a 6th-century British bard whose life is mostly known through his poetry; Bond adapted these fragments selectively for storytelling purposes. While later legends associate him with King Arthur’s court, Bond aimed for a realistic portrayal of Taliesin to firmly anchor the fantasy episodes within historical context.
Fantasy elements
As a time travel fantasy, Deborah O'Keefe in Readers in Wonderland characterized A String in the Harp as a distinctive "Junior-Year-Abroad style fantasy," where the children witness Taliesin and his realm without fully immersing themselves. The novel’s pronounced realism sets it apart from typical time-travel narratives, lending it greater authenticity.
This work has been likened to Susan Cooper’s 1970s fantasy series The Dark Is Rising Sequence, with both drawing inspiration from Welsh mythology and the Mabinogion. Louisa Smith observes that both Bond and Cooper incorporate supernatural elements intruding upon ordinary life, serving as sources of both menace and opportunity. According to Children's Literature, Bond places more emphasis on family dynamics, using magical aspects as a catalyst for development within the Morgan household.
Themes
The Newbery Companion portrays A String in the Harp as a narrative focused on friendship and familial challenges, particularly highlighting Peter’s difficult relationship with his father alongside the family’s coping with their mother’s passing. Folklore scholar C. W. Sullivan contends that without its incorporation of Welsh mythological themes, the story would resemble a conventional adolescent drama.
Jenny, discontented by her father’s treatment of Peter, quietly embraces her caretaker responsibilities, remaining in Wales to oversee the home despite missing school. Judith Kinman critiques this portrayal for reinforcing conventional gender roles, which may lessen its appeal for younger audiences.
Although Mr. Morgan is an academic professor, Peter harbors resentment toward schooling and questions its relevance, including learning Welsh. Jenny’s ability to skip a grade while continuing some studies supports the notion that school is an unwelcome obligation that interferes with more meaningful pursuits.
Gladys Hunt identifies two principal themes: the potential existence of magic within reality—endorsed by characters such as farmer Mr. Evans and Professor Rhys who acknowledge unexplainable phenomena—and the profound connection between lives across different eras, as illustrated by Peter returning Taliesin’s key, which brings resolution to both past and present.
Critical reception
A String in the Harp was honored with a Newbery Honor in 1977 and also received the International Reading Association Children’s Book Award that same year. Additionally, it was recognized as an American Library Association Notable Book, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, and listed among Horn Book Magazine’s Best Books of 1977. The Welsh National Centre for Children's Literature presented it with the Tir na n-Og Award for outstanding English-language literature authentically rooted in Welsh culture. Despite these accolades, it had not been published in the United Kingdom as of 1995.
The novel garnered favorable critiques from leading reviewers. Kirkus Reviews commended its vivid portrayal of Welsh landscapes and well-rounded characters, emphasizing Bond’s concentration on family evolution and emotional recovery rather than indulging in typical Arthurian fantasy extravagance. While some reviewers mentioned its length as a drawback, it remains memorable for those who finish it. Gladys Hunt recommended it as one of the most gratifying fantasy novels available for teenagers.