A boy with a sword. Krapivin V.P.

For a long time, Vladislav Petrovich Krapivin was considered a writer for children, and some now think so. Such an unfair opinion was criticized because his books were published mainly in children's publishers (or in children's editions of regional publishers). Indeed, the main characters in his books are boy. But there is a big difference - to write for children and write about children. In the first case, the circle of readers is narrowed to the children's audience. In the second - everyone reads the book, independently from age. Jules Verne, “Geklberry Finn”, Kaverinsky “Two Captains” - is this children's literature or not children? The answer is obvious. Also Vladislav Krapivin is a writer for any age.

The Espada Sails Cycle, which includes the novels “Boy with a sword”, “Bronze boy” and “red -haired banner of stubbornness”, is considered to be a peak of the work of Vladislav Krapivin. Yes, everything is so, right, but I would like to clarify a little: one of many peaks - of the past and real, and, probably, future, because the writer’s work continues and it is not known to what new heights his talent can rise.

1970s, the 1990s, the beginning of the 2000s-the time of action of the novels of the trilogy. The changing history of the country and the fortress of the spirit of the main characters living contrary to the time. In the world is complex, inconsistent, where the boundaries of concepts are eroded-the honor, courage, betrayal, meanness-their task is not to lower the flag once raised in the “Espada”, a small boyish fraternity, a detachment of captains and drummers, that is, not to change themselves.