He wanted nothing more than to live in peace, until a petty tyrant forced him into a cruel choice: Swiss hunter William Tell is famous for his great skill with a crossbow. A mild-mannered husband and father, he just wants a quiet life for his family. Yet his homeland's brutal foreign rulers are making such an existence impossible. Then, one day, a ruthless official forces Tell into a terrible choice: Shoot an apple off his son's head--or be killed along with his son. Will he accept this awful challenge?

"St. Valentine's Day: A Medieval Origin" is presented by Professor Philip Daileader of The College of William and Mary. We offer free lectures to our customers at various times throughout the year as part of our goal to provide a lifelong learning experience.
Professor Daileader (Ph.D., Harvard University) is a specialist on the social, cultural, and religious history of Mediterranean Europe and has crafted two courses for The Teaching Company about the Middle Ages. He received William and Mary’s 2004 Alumni Fellowship Award for excellence in teaching. As a graduate student, he was a four-time winner of the Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching.

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A father is forced to make a life-or-death choice by a tyrant. And so William Tell, national hero of Switzerland, enters the realm of legend when he aims his crossbow at the apple placed on his son’s head. The best-loved play by one of the best-loved German authors, William Tell transcends national borders and languages with its universal message of freedom. Friedrich Schiller, who would write the “Ode to Joy” set to music by Beethoven, did not invent the iconic apple-shot scene, but he made it a powerful symbol of the human struggle for dignity and independence.

William Tell - Penguin Readers - Level 1

William Tell is a good man, but his country is a dangerous place. The Swiss people don't like the Austrian emperor or his governor in Switzerland. Can William Tell help them in their fight with the Austrians? Or is he a man of peace?

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Sylvester can’t believe his luck when he finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true. But when a lion jumps out at him on his way home, Sylvester is shocked into making a wish that has unexpected consequences. After overcoming a series of obstacles, Sylvester is eventually reunited with his loving family. Illustrated with William Steig’s glowing pictures, this winner of the Caldecott Medal is beloved by children everywhere.