Editing Mattimeo

{{Short description|1989 fantasy novel by Brian Jacques}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
| name         = Mattimeo
| title_orig   = 
| translator   = 
| image        = MattimeoUKCover.jpg
| caption  = UK first edition cover
| author       = [[Brian Jacques]]
| illustrator    = [[Gary Chalk (illustrator)|Gary Chalk]]
| cover_artist = [[Pete Lyon]]
| country      = United Kingdom
| language     = English
| series       = [[Redwall]]
| genre        = [[Fantasy novel]]
| publisher    = [[Hutchinson (publisher)|Hutchinson]] (UK) & Philomel (US)
| release_date = 1989
| media_type   = Print (hardback and paperback)
| pages        = 312 (UK Hardback) & 446 (US Hardback)
| isbn =  0-09-173898-9 |isbn_note= (UK Hardback) & {{ISBN|0-399-21741-X}} (US Hardback)
| oclc= 19263369
| preceded_by  = [[Mossflower]]
| followed_by  = [[Mariel of Redwall]] 
}}

'''''Mattimeo''''' is a [[fantasy novel]] by [[Brian Jacques]], published in 1989. It is the third book in the ''[[Redwall]]'' series. It is also one of the three ''Redwall'' novels to be made into a [[Redwall (TV series)#Mattimeo|television series]], alongside its [[Redwall (novel)|self-titled novel]] (Season 1) and "[[Martin the Warrior]]" (Season 3).

==Plot summary==

===Slagar the Cruel===
''Mattimeo'' is a direct sequel to ''[[Redwall (novel)|Redwall]] ''and'' [[Mossflower]]'', taking place eight seasons (two years) after the events of the first novel.<ref>{{cite book| last = Jacques| first = Brian| author-link = Brian Jacques| title = Mattimeo| publisher = Ace Fantasy| location = Kew York| year = 1999| orig-year = 1990| isbn = 0-441-00610-8| page = [https://archive.org/details/mattimeo00bria/page/87 87]| url = https://archive.org/details/mattimeo00bria/page/87}}</ref> The peaceful woodland creatures of Redwall Abbey are busy preparing for a feast during the [[equinox|summer equinox]].<ref>{{cite book| last = Jacques| first = Brian| author-link = Brian Jacques| title = Mattimeo| publisher = Ace Fantasy| location = Kew York| year = 1999| orig-year = 1990| isbn = 0-441-00610-8| page = [https://archive.org/details/mattimeo00bria/page/6 6]| url = https://archive.org/details/mattimeo00bria/page/6}}</ref> Matthias and Cornflower have had a son named Mattimeo, who has been generally spoiled throughout his life by the inhabitants of Redwall. Meanwhile, the masked [[red fox]] Slagar the Cruel and his gang of [[rat]] and [[weasel]] slavers are planning to enter Redwall Abbey during one of their feasts. Slagar, a villainous fox (the son of Sela and previously known as Chickenhound) craving revenge for a crime never committed against him, intends to capture slaves from Redwall and take them to an underground kingdom ruled by a mysterious, god-like figure named Malkariss to be sold as slaves. After drugging the Abbey residents, he kidnaps Mattimeo, Tim and Tess Churchmouse, Cynthia [[bank vole|Bankvole]], and Sam [[Eurasian red squirrel|Squirrel]]. They meet Auma, (a young [[Eurasian badger]] maid) and Jube, (a [[common hedgehog]]), who were also kidnapped by Slagar the Cruel. Upon discovering the children missing, Matthias, Basil Stag [[Hare]] and Jess Squirrel with the help of a few friends, leave the Abbey to hunt down Slagar and return the children back home. They encounter Cheek, a [[European otter]] cub Matthias describes as "Cheek both by name and by nature".

[[Image:Mattimeo US.jpg|thumb|left|200px|US cover of ''Mattimeo'']]
On their journey, they meet up with Orlando the Axe, the father of Auma, and Jabez Stump, the father of Jube. As they journey, they find the Guerrilla Union of [[Shrew]]s in Mossflower (Guosim), and convince them to aid the travellers on their quest.

===General Ironbeak===
Meanwhile, at the Abbey, a horde of [[Rook (bird)|rooks]], [[Eurasian magpie]]s, and [[carrion crow]]s led by the [[common raven]] known as General Ironbeak have come to conquer it. They instantly capture most of Redwall, starting from the top and working their way down. Then, Baby Rollo, Cornflower and Mrs. Churchmouse get kidnapped by the rooks, but the remaining Abbeydwellers manage to capture the Magpie brothers Quickbill, Diptail and Brightback with drugged strawberries, courtesy of Sister May. When the magpies went to forage for food for Ironbeak's crew, they ate the strawberries. The two forces then negotiate a hostage exchange. After that, the Abbey's residents take refuge in a basement called Cavern Hole, stocked with many supplies. Then Cornflower has an idea to dress up as a ghost and scare the rooks; they succeed, but General Ironbeak doesn't fall for the trick. He traps Constance in the gatehouse, then slips his army through the barricade.

===Malkariss===
After a long journey up cliffs, fighting a horde of archer rats, and crossing a desert and a gorge, Matthias's gang finally arrive at the underground kingdom of Malkariss, where Slagar has been trading his slaves. There, the heroes fight the massive army of rats, while Matthias frees the slaves held there and is reunited with his son. Then while they fight Matthias fights a large fiend called the Wearet and is thrown off a walkway into a pit where he confronts Malkariss who is revealed to be an ancient and somewhat repulsive [[European polecat]]. Malkariss is about to kill Matthias with his own sword when the tyrant's slaves appear and destroy their master by pelting him with the stones and rocks which they had been using to build. Matthias frees the slaves and a great battle ensues during which Malkariss' kingdom is destroyed and his minions defeated. Later, Slagar reappears and kills Vitch, a rat slaver he worked with. Matthias and Orlando attempt to kill Slagar, who flees, only to plunge to his death down a well shaft.

The company return to Redwall after Stryk [[Red kite|Redkite]] kills Ironbeak and his seer Mangiz and the woodlanders of Redwall send off the remaining ravens with iron collars around their necks.

The book ends with the residents of Redwall celebrating with a feast. Father Abbot declared the season Autumn of the Warriors' Return. The epilogue reveals that Tim had since become the abbey recorder (in an extract from his diary). Tess and Mattimeo had married, and Basil officially adopted Cheek (now bearing the title Cheek Stag Otter).

==Characters in ''Mattimeo''==
{{main article|List of Redwall characters}}
*Matthias
*Cornflower
*Mattimeo
*Slagar the Cruel
*Vitch
*Tim and Tess Churchmouse
*Cynthia Bankvole
*Rollo Bankvole
*Sam Squirrel
*Mangiz
*Auma
*Cheek
*Jubilation (Jube) Stump
*Basil Stag Hare
*Jess Squirrel
*Orlando the Axe
*Jabez Stump
*Nadaz
*Threeclaws
*General Ironbeak
*Stryk Redkite
*Constance the Badger
*Abbot Mordalfus
*Sir Harry the Muse
*John and Mrs Churchmouse
*Grubclaw
*Winifred the Otter
*Halftail
*Skinpaw
*Scringe
*Wedgeback
*Snakespur
*Fengal
*Deadnose
*Ambrose Spike
*Lettie Bankvole
*Ragwing
*Malkariss
*Ambrose Spike
*Badrag
*Bageye
*Brother Trugg
*Browntooth
*Stonefleck
*Rosyqueen Stump
*Damper
*Diptail
*Drynose
*Scurl Droptail, a con-artist newt
*Elmtail
*Sister May
*Fleaback
*Flugg, the new log-a-log after the first one dies
*Friar Hugo
*Skan, a rather selfish shrew
*Hairbelly
*Wartclaw

==Reception==
[[Publishers Weekly]] said the book is a "truly thrilling conclusion" to the Redwall trilogy, and praised the characters as being "realistically drawn" and "full of personality".<ref>{{cite web |title=Children's Book Review: Mattimeo |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-399-21741-8 |website=Publishers Weekly |access-date=4 February 2021}}</ref> The [[Kirkus Reviews]] also offered some praise, calling it a "treat for Redwall's fans", but criticized its writing as being "wholly simplistic" and lacking depth.<ref>{{cite web |title=Book Reviews: Mattimeo |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/brian-jacques-10/mattimeo/ |website=Kirkus Reviews |access-date=4 February 2021}}</ref>
==Translations==
*([[Dutch language|Dutch]]) ''Het Zuidland''
**''Het Zuidland: Slagar de Wrede''
**''Het Zuidland: De Kloof''
**''Het Zuidland: Malkariss''
*(French) ''Rougemuraille : Mattiméo''
**''Tome 1 : Salik le Barbare''
**''Tome 2 : Le Général Becdacier''
**''Tome 3 : Le Royaume du mal''
*(German) ''Mattimeo: Die Rache des Fuchses''
**''Slagar der Grausame''
**''General Eisenschnabel''
**''Lord Malkariss''
*(Italian)
*([[Swedish language|Swedish]])
**Del 1: Slagar den Grymme
**Del 2: General Järnnäbb
*([[Greek language|Greek]]) Οι Γενναιοι: Του Ρεντγоυολ
*([[Latvian language|Latvian]]) ''Matimeo'' - Leģenda par Matiasa dēlu un Bendesmaisu Cietsirdi
**''Matimeo: Bendesmaiss Cietsirdis''
**''Matimeo: Ģenerālis Dzelzsknābis''
**''Matimeo: Malkariss''

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051026071109/http://www.redwall.org/dave/mattimeo.html Plot summary]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
  before=  ''[[Redwall (novel)|Redwall]]''|
  title=  [[Redwall|''Redwall'' series]]|
  years= (chronological order)|
  after= ''[[The Pearls of Lutra]]''
}}
{{succession box |
  before=  ''[[Mossflower]]''|
  title=  [[Redwall|''Redwall'' series]]|
  years= (publication order)|
  after= ''[[Mariel of Redwall]]''
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Brian Jacques}}
{{Redwall}}
[[Category:Fictional mice and rats]]
[[Category:Children's fantasy novels]]
[[Category:British children's novels]]
[[Category:British fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Redwall books]]
[[Category:1989 British novels]]
[[Category:Hutchinson (publisher) books]]
[[Category:1989 children's books]]
[[Category:1989 fantasy novels]]
[[Category:British novels adapted into television shows]]