The Trumpet of the Swan

Among marshes, at the edge of a tranquil pond in the Canadian wilderness, two majestic, snowy trumpeter swans glide on the placid water. No, this isn’t a nature documentary. It’s the setting of a moving tale about family, about love, about embracing life and accepting your flaws. It’s the setting of a remarkable tale about a mute trumpeter swan named Louis.

The name foreshadows it all. Born speechless, Louis’s silence worries his parents. A human friend, Sam, who saved the mother swan’s life the year before, attempts to assist him by taking him to school (not unlike Mary and her lamb), thus allowing him to learn how to read and write. Though proud of his achievements, those newfound skills prove ineffectual when Louis falls in love with another young swan, Serena, as “she couldn’t really get interested in a bird that was unable to say anything.” His father, pained by his inability to “utter the usual endearments to the young female of his choice” , steals a trumpet from a Billings music store to “provide him with a device, to enable him to make a lot of noise.” This initiates Louis’s journey to perform and earn money to repay his father’s debts. His species, his name, his instrument, and his career all pay tribute to legendary jazz maestro Louis Armstrong.

And off he goes on a performance trip taking him from the lakes of Montana to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Boston, as well as a journey of self-discovery. This story, like George Orwell’s Animal Farm, portrays human characteristics through the actions, conversations, and thoughts of the animals depicted. However, unlike the former, The Trumpet of the Swan focuses on the better side of human nature. Louis’s mother, a devoted, sensible pen (female swan), the very image of maternal warmth and kindness, is amusingly paired with his stereotypically proud, but affectionate father, whose penchant for spouting poetic utterances such as “here I glide, swanlike, while earth is bathed in wonder and beauty” provides a veritable wellspring of humor. They, along with Louis and his numerous siblings, paints an image of a loving family. When I first read this book five years ago, the detailed, whimsical descriptions of Canadian flora and fauna, Louis’s epic American road trip, and the thrilling animal versus man showdowns in the music shop and the zoo, were the aspects that captivated me. However, having reached a higher level of emotional maturity, it’s become evident to me that familial love and friendship are themes that are just as, if not more, predominant than adventure in this story. Louis goes on to perform in a Philadelphia night club, which he detested, as the working hours were late, and “everyone seemed to be talking too loudly, eating too much, and drinking too much.” But he has no choice, once again portraying human qualities in saying: “when you need money, you are willing to put up with difficulties and uncertainties.” He eventually pays off his debts, successfully woos Serena with exquisite music, and settles down back in the pond where he was born, bringing the tale full circle.

This story about voiceless Louis encourages readers to accept themselves for who they truly are, to acknowledge both their strengths and their flaws. His life parallels that of a normal human boy, from growing up, to starting school, to going to summer camp, to securing a first job, to marrying and having his own family. Through these personifications it persuasively motivates us to live life to the fullest regardless of any inevitable limitations, but reminds us that success isn’t free: “I’m not going to become a trumpeter in a day, that’s for sure. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I’m going to learn to blow this horn if it takes me all summer.” It poignantly conveys the message that determination overcomes barriers. This isn’t just a children’s fantastical animal fable. It still resonates and inspires, five years after first reading it.