The Trumpeter of Krakow

Set in 15^th century Poland, The Trumpeter of Krakow is the tale of a young boy’s admiration for the bravery of a long-dead youth and how this encourages him to remain loyal to his country, in the face of immense peril. Forced to abandon their farm to the invading Tartars, Joseph Charnetski and his parents escape to the ancient city of Krakow with the only thing that they managed to save —a priceless family heirloom, the Great Tarnov Crystal. Reputed to have extraordinary magical powers that will guarantee victory to anyone who possesses it, the Crystal must be delivered to the king before it falls into the wrong hands. Only the inspiring example of the young trumpeter of Krakow, who met his death when he alerted the city to an attack by the Tartars, gives Joseph the courage he needs to fulfill his duty.

One of the characters in particular interested me, Jan Kanty. I knew that some aspects of the book were real others were not so I decided to do a little research on Jan Kanty. It turns out that he was a real person who lived in Krakow in the 15^th century, a saint to be more specific. He was known for his charity towards others and his wisdom.