Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord enchants readers with its atmospheric portrayal of Venice and a captivating storyline. Praised for its vivid imagination and well-developed, diverse characters, the novel entertains both young and mature audiences. Some critics find the plot predictable and the pacing uneven, but overall, it remains a beloved adventure.

A reader who loves adventure, mystery, and magical realism in a rich, atmospheric setting would enjoy The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. Fans of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series or Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy will appreciate its engaging storytelling and relatable young protagonists who navigate complex, fantastical worlds.

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke follows runaway brothers Prosper and Bo as they escape to Venice and join a group of orphans led by the enigmatic Thief Lord, Scipio. While evading their wealthy but unkind aunt, they get embroiled in a heist for a magical object. Along the way, they uncover secrets about their new family and face moral dilemmas about trust, loyalty, and identity.

Adventurous / Mysterious / Fantastical / Nostalgic / Heartwarming

- The Thief Lord was Cornelia Funke's first novel to be translated from German into English, helping to introduce her to an international audience.
- Cornelia Funke drew inspiration from her time living in Venice, Italy, which is vividly depicted as the novel's setting.
- The book won the prestigious Mildred L. Batchelder Award in 2003, which recognizes outstanding children's books originally published in a foreign language.

**Prospero Hartlieb (Prosper)**  
A 12-year-old boy and the main protagonist who becomes the caretaker of his younger brother, Bo, after their mother's death; he is the moral center of his group and part of a gang led by the Thief Lord.

**Boniface Hartlieb (Bo)**  
The five-year-old brother of Prosper, he is adventurous and impressionable, idolizing the Thief Lord, which leads to both trouble and pivotal moments in the story.

**Scipio Massimo (The Thief Lord)**  
A wealthy boy who assumes the identity of the Thief Lord to assert independence from his powerful father, he leads a group of street children and steals to provide for them.

**Victor Getz**  
A detective, hired to find Prosper and Bo, who becomes empathetic towards their situation and helps them out because of his own sense of morality.

**Ernesto Barbarossa**  
A secondary antagonist, he is a shady dealer known for cheating others, who becomes embroiled in the story's central mystery.

Cornelia Funke

Middle grade

Novel

Fiction

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The Thief Lord Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-7

The Thief Lord Chapters 1-7 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 8-13

The Thief Lord Chapters 8-13 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 14-19

The Thief Lord Chapters 14-19 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 20-25

The Thief Lord Chapters 20-25 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 26-32

The Thief Lord Chapters 26-32 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 33-38

The Thief Lord Chapters 33-38 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 39-45

The Thief Lord Chapters 39-45 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 46-53

The Thief Lord Chapters 46-53 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

The Thief Lord Character Analysis

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The Thief Lord Symbols & Motifs

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The Thief Lord Important Quotes

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The Thief Lord

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