logo

68 pages 2 hours read

The Last Unicorn

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1968

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Peter S. Beagle

The Last Unicorn

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1968
Book Details
Pages

294

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Fantasy Realm • Unknown

Publication Year

1968

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle is a fantasy novel about an immortal unicorn who leaves her forest to find the rest of her kind, who have disappeared. Along her journey, she faces numerous challenges, encounters allies such as Schmendrick the magician and Molly Grue, and ultimately confronts the mysterious Red Bull and its master, King Haggard. The novel delves into themes of mortality, transformation, and the nature of true heroism.

Fantastical

Melancholic

Bittersweet

Nostalgic

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn captivates readers with its lyrical prose and enchanting storyline, appealing to fans of fantasy. Praise frequently highlights its deep themes and memorable characters. Criticisms focus on its pacing and moments of dated language. Overall, it remains a beloved classic with a few minor drawbacks.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Last Unicorn?

Readers who relish richly woven fantasy tales like The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis or The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien will find The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle enthralling. This book appeals to those who appreciate lyrical prose, timeless quests, and deeply poetic storytelling.

Character List

The Unicorn/Lady Amalthea

The protagonist whose quest is to discover what happened to the rest of the unicorns. She undergoes significant transformation, both physically and mentally, during her journey.

A magician with untamed abilities, who struggles to control his magic. His development is marked by his journey toward mastering his powers while assisting the unicorn on her quest.

An experienced woman who has lived a challenging outlaw life. Her encounter with the unicorn brings a renewed sense of purpose and wonder to her existence.

The adopted son of King Haggard, who evolves from a seemingly unremarkable young man into a hero inspired by his love for Lady Amalthea.

A joyless ruler living in a barren castle by the sea, whose only source of happiness comes from watching unicorns.

A powerful and fearsome creature that serves King Haggard by driving the unicorns into the sea, acting without conscience or reason.

The operator of a mystical carnival who temporarily captures the unicorn and a magical harpy, portraying them to the world through deceptive illusions.

Book Details
Pages

294

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Fantasy Realm • Unknown

Publication Year

1968

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.