In the old Saxon town of Hamelin, a stranger appears with a magical fife. He promises to rid the town of its rats for the sum of 100 Rhine Ducats. When its desperate citizens agree to hire his services, he plays his fife and lures the rats to the river. But can Hamelin ever be truly void of all its vermin? Viktor Dyk's rendition of the Pied Piper legend masterfully blends lyrical prose with early twentieth century modernist perspective. For over a century, The Ratcatcher has held its own among the great works of Czech literature, but now this classic is introduced to us in English for the first time.