jane_pendragon's review
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
luthien3720's review
4.0
The seeds of so many well-known children's stories must have been sown by this mid-nineteenth century book. The four Beverley siblings (the titular Children), Edward, Humphrey, Alice, and Edith, are surely the ancestors of the Pevensie siblings of Narnia and the Walker siblings of Swallows and Amazons, and undoubtedly many others. The two girls, two boys combination works well for these sort of stories. Edward takes centre stage throughout most of the book, with Humphrey as the next-biggest role. The girls are younger--Edith was still in single-digit age at the beginning--and get a little less characterization; I suspect Marryat was writing for an audience of boys primarily. But this book can be enjoyed by everyone. I enjoyed the descriptions of life in the New Forest. It was easy to picture the Armitage cottage and the deep green of the forest. I love stories that show how characters build and learn, and watching them work to carve a real farm out of the landscape was fascinating. And all while hiding from Oliver Cromwell's forces, who would like nothing better than to kill all four of them! The story is a great picture of the time of the English Civil War, and Marryat strikes a balance between the two sides. Patience, the children's Puritan friend, and her gamekeeper father are great examples of good people supporting the Parlimentarian side, explaining why they do, while the Beverley children show the Royalist side. The story piqued my interest in learning more about the English Civil War.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
Children of the New Forest is an old children’s story, originally published in 1847, that I never would have read had I not been trying to read all of the 1001 Children’s Books. It’s historical fiction, set back in the 17th century during the time of the English Civil War. It’s the story of the four Beverley children who are orphaned and subsequently taken in by a local forester who disguises them as his grandchildren. The four children remain in hiding for the duration of the war and learn from their caretaker to live in the forest.
It’s a fascinating story, filled with details of life long ago filtered by the author’s perceptions of the time.
It’s a fascinating story, filled with details of life long ago filtered by the author’s perceptions of the time.
jodilynclayton's review
3.0
In my quest to read classic children's books, I found this one. It was odd. But since it was first published in 1847 and was one of the first books written for children, it is understandable. I did enjoy getting more insight into the English Civil War.
jennyanydots's review
5.0
Read for Children's Book Challenge. Really enjoyed reading this one - I'd borrowed it from the library and read it once when I was a child, but it never got a re-read because it was a library book. I liked rediscovering the story and the level of historical detail really appealed to me. I'm not sure if it might turn off modern children or not, but I think it will definitely get a re-read from me in the future, as I think it's one of those that has more to offer the more attention you give it.
More...