The Apple and the Arrow
The Apple and the Arrow, set in 1291 in Switzerland, tells the story of Walter, the 12-year old son of legendary archer William Tell. When Switzerland enters into a revolution against its Austrian rulers, Walter finds a secret that could destroy the life of his beloved father.
In 1291, William Tell, holds the title of the greatest bowman in the land of Uri. William’s son, Walter, lives happily in the remote heights of the Alpine Mountains. He cares for his family’s goat herd and practices his marksmanship in the hopes of making his father proud.
But as the end of the year approaches, Walter’s peaceful life changes, as his country enters a revolution. Walter must carry a secret that could threaten the life of the father he loves so dearly.
More than seven hundred years have passed since the day Walter stood in the marketplace balancing an apple on his head while the Austrian tyrant Gessler commanded Walter’s father, William Tell, to take aim at the apple with his great crossbow. The dramatic tale of William’s arrest and escape and the daring revolt of the Swiss against the Austrians has become a legend around the world
- A 1952 Newberry Honor Book.
