La Belle Sauvage
by Philip Pullman
The first book in Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust trilogy, serving as a prequel to His Dark Materials. Set in an alternate Oxford, it follows 11-year-old Malcolm Polstead who becomes protector of baby Lyra Belacqua during a great flood that threatens their world. The story explores themes of good versus evil, the power of storytelling, and the protection of innocence, while featuring Pullman's signature blend of fantasy, philosophy, and critique of authoritarian religious institutions.
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