The Plush Usurper by Edith Nesbit
What a delightful tale! It's a pleasure to summarize it for you. The story begins with King Alban, who rules over the kingdom of Albanatolia, being turned into a white stone by his treacherous brother, the Magician. The Princess Perihelia, who is actually the Princess of the Sun, finds the stone and pities it, not knowing that it's her beloved King Alban. As she weeps and clasps the stone, the magic begins to wear off, and King Alban transforms back into his human form. However, when he sees his treacherous brother, he speaks words that were previously cast upon him, which unfortunately don't turn the Magician into a stone as intended. Instead, the weakened spell turns the Magician into a wooden post. The wicked Magician remains a post forever and is eventually turned into a pump by King Alban, who uses it to provide bitter water for children, which gives them a healthy complexion. The Magician's retinue is forced to drink from the pump, but they escape by stealing the State barge and sailing away. Meanwhile, King Alban and Princess Perihelia get married, and she reveals that she can bring soft, sweet colors to his kingdom. Together, they make laws to ensure happiness and beauty in their realm, starting with a ban on plush fabrics. The kingdom of Albanatolia becomes the most beautiful country in the world, filled with happy people. The narrator of the story had once visited this kingdom but was asked to leave due to their inappropriate attire. They hope that you might be able to visit one day, if you can manage to dress in the colors of the dawn clouds.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1906 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 5,970 words
First lines
THERE was a knock at the King's study door. The King looked up from his plans for the new municipal washhouses and sighed; for that was the twenty-seventh knock that had come to his door since breakfast.
"Come in," said the King, wearily.
Similar titles
- The Related Muff by Edith Nesbit
- The Audacious Kitten by Oliver Herford
- The Adventurer by Edith Nesbit
- The Prince Two Mice And Some Kitchen Maids by Edith Nesbit
- Doctor Dolittles Post Office by Hugh Lofting
- The Laughing Hippopotamus by L. Frank Baum
Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is primarily aimed at young readers, with a focus on adventure and moral lessons.
- Fantasy — The story involves magical elements and fantastical creatures, typical of the fantasy genre.
- Adventure — The plot revolves around a series of exciting events and challenges faced by the characters.
Tags
Fantasy · Children's Literature · Adventure · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Animal Fiction · Talking Animals · Imaginary Creatures · Royal Court · Power Struggle · Usurpation
What this Textopian page supports
The Plush Usurper is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 5,970 words
- Structure: 1 section, 95 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Plush Usurper by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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