Howl's Moving Castle (novel)
A fantasy novel about a cursed eldest sister and a wizard's moving castle.
Diana Wynne Jones's fantasy novel Howl's Moving Castle first came out in 1986 from Greenwillow Books of New York. It earned a runner-up spot for the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award and later won the Phoenix Award. A 2004 Studio Ghibli animated film adaptation received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. The book is the first in a series, followed by Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways. Jones credited a boy she met at a school visit, who asked for a story called The Moving Castle, for the idea.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Diana Wynne Jones
- Cover artist
- Joseph A. Smith
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Series
- Howl's Castle
- Genre
- Children's fantasy novel
- Publisher
- Greenwillow Books (US)
- Published
- April 1986
Facts from the source article.
Plot summary
Eighteen-year-old Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three sisters in the magical kingdom of Ingary, resigns herself to a dull future running the family hat shop, believing the fairytale trope that the eldest will never succeed. Unbeknownst to her, she can talk life into objects. The Witch of the Waste, mistaking Sophie for a threat, transforms her into an old crone. Sophie leaves the shop and becomes a cleaning lady for the wizard Howl, striking a bargain with his fire demon Calcifer: if she breaks the contract between Howl and Calcifer, Calcifer will restore her youth. The contract's main clause cannot be disclosed, so Sophie must discover it herself. Howl, a self-absorbed but good-natured wizard, spreads rumors about himself to avoid work. His castle door opens to four places: Market Chipping, Porthaven, Kingsbury, and modern-day Wales. When Prince Justin and Wizard Suliman go missing, the King orders Howl to find them and kill the Witch of the Waste. Howl avoids the Witch, his jilted former lover who cursed him, until she traps Sophie. Howl rescues Sophie, unshaven and disheveled, demonstrating his love for her. He kills the Witch and reveals that Miss Angorian was the Witch's fire demon in disguise, attempting to create a perfect human by fusing Suliman, Prince Justin, and Howl's head.
Characters
Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three sisters at age 18, has red hair and is rather pretty but lacks confidence. After the Witch of the Waste turns her into an old woman, she becomes a cleaning lady in Howl's castle, hoping to lift the curse. She falls in love with Howl but denies it. Transformed, she becomes strong-minded, impulsive, and argumentative, possessing the magic to imbue objects with life by talking to them. Wizard Howl, age 27, is a mysterious, reclusive wizard with a terrible reputation. He gave Calcifer his heart to save the fire demon, which saps his humanity. He is known for being wicked and a coward, often avoiding work and responsibility. His apprentice Michael Fisher runs the day-to-day business. Howl's sister in Wales remains unaware of his otherworldly activities.
Major themes and genre
The novel explores themes of destiny, youth, courage, and love. Sophie's early belief that as the eldest she is doomed to fail contrasts with Howl's view of himself as master of his own fate. The Witch of the Waste's spell reflects Sophie's self-perceived failure by making her outwardly old and dull. Scholars classify Howl's Moving Castle as New Mythology, defined by a new heroic archetype that confronts modern ideals with old contexts. Sophie Hatter exemplifies this archetype. The novel builds on myths such as Cupid and Psyche, Cinderella, Bluebeard, and Beauty and the Beast but subverts their tropes; for instance, the eldest sister is doomed to fail first, unlike the youngest in those tales. New Mythology also features proximity to the real world, shown through the castle door opening to Wales, allowing characters to view our world from an outsider's perspective.
Allusions and references to other works
The novel is filled with literary references. John Donne appears twice: Howl quotes "Busy old fool, unruly Sophie" from The Sun Rising in Chapter 10, and Miss Angorian reads from Donne's Song in Chapter 11, which also sets the terms for Howl's curse. A sign reading "Rivendell" from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings appears on Megan's house in Chapter 11. In Chapter 12, Howl says "We can't all be Mad Hatters," referencing Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Hamlet is quoted in Chapter 17, and another Hamlet reference appears in Chapter 11. The aliases Percival and Gareth are Knights of the Round Table, while Howl's alias Pendragon comes from King Arthur's father. The Witch of the Waste's name puns on the Witch of the West from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Howl's Moving Castle (novel) published?
Howl's Moving Castle was published in April 1986.
Who illustrated Howl's Moving Castle (novel)?
Howl's Moving Castle was illustrated by Joseph A. Smith.
More in Novels About Witches and Witchcraft
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced