The Chronicles of Prydain Books in Order
The Chronicles of Prydain series is 5 books by Lloyd Alexander, published 1964 to 1968. Start with The Book of Three (1964). We track 11 editions of them.
- Books
- 5
- Editions tracked
- 11
- Numbers
- 1 to 5
- Published
- 1964 to 1968
Log in to tick off the ones you own, see what is missing and want the gaps in one click. Sign up free to print the checklist and hear about new books.
Reading order
The The Chronicles of Prydain books in the order they were published, with the year each first appeared.
- 1The Book of ThreeWhen Hen Wen, the oracular pig in his care, runs away, Taran follows her into the forest and is caught up in the struggle against the Death Lord Arawn.Buy a copy: eBay1964
- 2The Black CauldronTaran and his companions set out to seize the Black Cauldron, which the Death Lord Arawn uses to swell his army of deathless warriors.Buy a copy: eBay1965
- 3The Castle of LlyrSent to the Isle of Mona to learn courtly manners, Princess Eilonwy is abducted, and Taran leads the search to bring her back.Buy a copy: eBay1966
- 4Taran WandererUnsure he is worthy of Eilonwy, Taran travels across Prydain to discover who his parents were and learns much about himself on the way.Buy a copy: eBay1967
- 5The High KingAfter Arawn's servants seize the magic sword Dyrnwyn, Taran and his companions rally the free peoples of Prydain for a final stand.Buy a copy: eBay1968
Editions we track
| No. | Cover | Book | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Book Of Three First | 1964 | |
| 2 | The Black Cauldron First | 1965 | |
| 3 | The Castle of Llyr First | 1966 | |
| 4 | Taran Wanderer First | 1967 | |
| 5 | The High King First | 1968 | |
| – | The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain First | 1973 |
About The Chronicles of Prydain
The Chronicles of Prydain is a children's fantasy series by the American author Lloyd Alexander, drawing on Welsh legend and following Taran, an assistant pig-keeper, in the struggle against the Death Lord Arawn. There are 5 Prydain novels, published by Henry Holt and Company from 1964 to 1968, from The Book of Three to The High King, which won the 1969 Newbery Medal; The Black Cauldron was a Newbery Honor book. The picture books Coll and His White Pig (1965) and The Truthful Harp (1967) and the story collection The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain (1973), set before Taran's birth, are companions and are not counted.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I read the The Chronicles of Prydain books in?
Start with The Book of Three (1964), then The Black Cauldron and The Castle of Llyr. The full list on this page gives every book in order with its first edition year.
How many The Chronicles of Prydain books are there?
There are 5 books in the The Chronicles of Prydain series, from 1964 to 1968.
What is the first The Chronicles of Prydain book?
The Book of Three, first published in 1964, is the first book in the The Chronicles of Prydain series.
Where these facts come from
- The Chronicles of Prydain, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Summary Bibliography: Lloyd Alexander, ISFDB (isfdb.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 2 November 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.
Know what you are collecting
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →