Our Little Frankish Cousin of Long Ago: Being the Story of Rainolf, a Boy at the Court of King Charlemagne

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This is the story of Rainolf, a young lad who by lucky chance becomes the page boy of Charlemagne, King of the Frankish peoples of early Medieval Europe.

Growing up in the city of Aachen in the 8th century, Rainolf is very curious about writing despite his illiteracy, trying to understand what the letters upon parchments he sees mean. By sheer luck he and his friends encounter the King’s jester Magalis, a dwarf who is very amiable. After befriending and hearing the stories of Magalis, Rainolf is allowed to stay within the Royal Palace for a time.

It is here that Rainolf encounters Alcuin, the King’s scribe, a scholar who poses many questions. This inquiring spirit is what affords the young lad an audience with the King who, impressed by Rainolf’s curiosity and keen efforts to learn, promotes him to the role of page. At last, by being a servant boy of the palace, Rainolf has the chance to become literate and enter the tutelage of the literate monks of the King’s court.

Evaleen Stein wrote a range of historical fiction, with the ‘Our Little Cousin’ series featuring young people who witness some of the greatest people in history.