For generations the tribes of Huns and Magyars had moved relentlessly westward, obeying the voices of their pagan gods, which compelled them to follow the elusive white stag to their promised homeland. They swept Europe, all the while pursuing their vision of the stag. Their leader was called Attila, and the land Hungary. Here is the epic story of their tribal migration and their fierce leader - know to us even today.

1938 Newbery Medal Winner

An interesting mythological account of Attila the Hun's ancestry and arrival in Europe.

Like other reviewers, I also thought the mixture with Biblical references a little odd and even confusing (Attila being descended from the Biblical Nimrod; the Huns and Magyars calling their pagan god "the lord"), but as an original mythology for the Huns' background I found it to be creative and entertaining.

I listened to the audiobook version through Audible. It started and ended with some really annoying music that distracted from the story. Jessica Almasy's narration was dramatic, clear, and well-timed, but her voice was a little too breathy for me and she affected some weird accents for the characters. Maybe they were supposed to be Hungarian accents? I don't know, but I felt like the story could have done without that.

The author sounds pretty badass having worked as a combat nurse during WWI. She moved from her native Hungary to the U.S. and wrote her books in English, her second language. I'd like to read some of her other books and look at the illustrations for The White Stag some time, since Seredy considered herself primarily an illustrator.

Anyway, those who are looking for historical fiction will probably not like this book as it is heavily based in legend, possibly totally made-up legend (I did not investigate).

However, it will appeal to those who like myth and have at least a little bit of bloodthirsty Hun deep inside of them.

Update: I checked the book out from the library in April of 2018 just to look at the illustrations. They're completely gorgeous--sort of cartoonish in some ways, but with a lot of detail on people's clothing and the muscles of the horses and the deer. They more than do justice to the mythology Seredy created. ( )

For generations the tribes of Huns and Magyars had moved relentlessly westward, obeying the voices of their pagan gods, which compelled them to follow the elusive white stag to their promised homeland. They swept Europe, all the while pursuing their vision of the stag. Their leader was called Attila, and the land Hungary. Here is the epic story of their tribal migration and their fierce leader - know to us even today.

Newbery winner or not, that was boring as hell.
It read like those tedious warmongering chapters in the Old Testament, with a dash of ancient mythology thrown into the mix. Hard to imagine a child of any age ever enjoying this, but I guess kids were different in1937.
To be fair though, I've never had any taste for mythology. I prefer books about characters I can identify with and care about. Nimrod, Bendeguz and Attila were definitely not characters I related to, had interest in, or muster compassion for. ( )

Great mythic story about the Magyars and Attilla the Hun. ( )