Inkheart

This article is about the book, for the film see Inkheart (film)

Inkheart

Inkheart book cover
Author	Cornelia Funke
Original title	Tintenherz
Translator	Anthea Bell
Language	German
Series	Inkworld trilogy
Genre(s)	High Fantasy, Fantasy novel
Publisher	Chickenhouse
Publication date	2003
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	534 pp
Followed by	Inkspell

Inkheart (original title: Tintenherz) is a young adult-child fantasy novel by Cornelia Funke, and the first book of the Inkworld trilogy. The book is about a girl named Meggie Folchart whose life changes dramatically when she realizes that her father, a bookbinder named Mortimer (nicknamed Mo), has an unusual ability: when he reads aloud, he can bring characters from books into the real world. Meggie and Mo's adventure takes them throughout Europe, particularly Italy, and brings them into contact with many unusual characters. The sequel, Inkspell, was released on October 1, 2005, and the third book in the trilogy, Inkdeath, is set to be released in 2008.

Plot summary

In the story of Inkheart, there is a story within a story: Mo originally brought four of Inkheart's characters to life while reading aloud from a novel which is also called Inkheart - Basta, Capricorn, Dustfinger, and Dustfinger's pet marten, Gwin. Dustfinger, a fire eater, desperately wants to return to the world of the fictional novel; Capricorn, the villain of both the "real" and "imaginary" stories, wants Mo (and later, Meggie, who shares her father's unusual gift) to summon an evil monster forged from the ashes of the murdered known as the Shadow, from the fictional novel; and Basta is Capricorn's right-hand man. On more than one level, Inkheart is a book about books and the love of reading. Meggie and Mo are both avid readers; Meggie has carried a box (made by her father) of her favorite books with her all of her life. But also, Inkheart references many other works of literature. In addition to the characters from the fictional novel Inkheart, Mo also brings to life a boy (named Farid) who belongs in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, and makes gold appear from Treasure Island. Meggie's reading causes Tinkerbell from Peter Pan to appear, and she also conjures up the soldier from "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, at the request of the Magpie, Capricorn's mother. Later, during an experiment for Fenoglio, she also solicits the soldier back.

Main characters

• Basta- One of Capricorn's most loyal servants, very superstitious and also brings his knife everywhere he goes. Fears fire greatly. Always wears long sleeves because he was once burned up to his shoulders by fire. He started chewing peppermint leaves when a girl told him that he has bad breath.
• Capricorn- The antagonist in the story. Full of evil, he was taken out of Inkheart unintentionally by Mo and wishes to gain as much power as possible.
• Dustfinger- One of the main characters in the story who is a fire-eater. Dustfinger was taken out of Inkheart at the same time Capricorn was. However, unlike Capricorn, he has a strong desire to go back to the land of Inkheart. He even betrays his friends in an attempt to re-enter the book, but returns to help Mo. He basically becomes Farid's adopted father.
• Elinor- Another one of the main characters. She has an unhealthy obsession with collecting books, however when her collection is destroyed she is able to recover, but she does try to seek vengeance.
• Farid- A boy who was read out of the story One Thousand and One Nights by Mo. He eventually became a close friend of Dustfinger because they shared a similar origin. He has a crush on Meggie.
• Fenoglio- The author of Inkheart (not to be confused with Cornelia Funke), in the end he creates a new story for Meggie to read aloud which causes an end to both Capricorn and the Shadow.
• Gwin- Dustfinger's pet marten, he is special because he has horns unlike most martens. He was read out of the book with Dustfinger.
• Mortola- AKA The Magpie, Capricorn's mother and servant.
• Meggie Folchart- A 12 year old young lady who loves books. She is Mo's daughter and inherits the ability to read out loud, and bring the book to life. In the end she reads Fenoglio's new story to bring an end to Capricorn.
• Mortimer Folchart- AKA Silvertounge, father of Meggie and also a skilled bookbinder. He has the ability to read things out of their stories. This power creates Capricorn and mainly causes trouble for everyone.
• Teresa Folchart- also known as Resa. Meggie's mother, and she is beautiful. She was considered Capricorn's favorite maidservant. She lost her voice after Darius brought her to life. Dustfinger has a liking for her, even though he has a wife back in the Inkworld.
• The Shadow- Capricorn's loyal assistant, nonhuman, and supernatural, he is made out of the ashes of his victims and serves as Capricorn's personal assassin. In the end he winds up being the cause of Capricorn's death.
• Cockerell-One of Capricorn's assistants that has a limp.

Cultural references

In the 2007 film, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, the character Edward Magorium can be seen reading a copy of Inkheart.

Film adaption

A movie based on the book is scheduled to be released March 19,2008. Eliza Bennett and Brendan Fraser were the first to be cast. Paul Bettany will play the role of Dustfinger, a fire-eater. Rafi Gavron is set to play Farid, the Arabian boy, who came out of the book 1001 Nights. Jim Broadbent will play the part of Fenoglio, Helen Mirren is set to play Elinor Loredan, and Andy Serkis has been cast as Capricorn. Sienna Guillory will play the part of Meggie's mother Resa, Meggie will be played by Eliza Bennett, and Jamie Foreman will be playing Basta. Actress Jessie Cave, who plays Lavender Brown in the Harry Potter series, will play a nymph. Iain Softley will direct the film.

External links

• The World of Cornelia Funke
• Official Cornelia Funke website