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aliteralfield's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A historical novel masquerading as a children’s fantasy. I would have loved more from the children’s perspective and more about Puck as they became an afterthought from 30 pages in.
readingrobin's review against another edition
Kind of a historical novel masquerading as a fantasy. I would have loved more from the other folk side, but Puck and the rest became an afterthought once the first 50 pages were through. Probably once a great way for kids to learn a bit of history back in the day, but not really what I'm looking for.
Great voice/writing for Kipling, but I'm ready to move on.
Great voice/writing for Kipling, but I'm ready to move on.
tomasthanes's review against another edition
5.0
English history as a fairy tale. What better way to learn history?
eleanorryd's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
13delathauwere's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
krep___'s review against another edition
3.5
English children encounter an ancient fairy/faun/? who introduces them to representatives from different era's of Britain's long history who tell their tales. Educational in its own way. Wonderful use of dialect. Narration of the audiobook edition was well done. A little hard to believe it would have had much appeal as a children's book - it would have been a difficult read. It's certainly not dumbed down. 3-1/2 stars.
yaburrow's review against another edition
5.0
Possibly the first Pagan novel I ever read. This book introduced me to Wayland Smith, Mithras, and Puck. It also contains the song that begins, “oh do not tell the priest of our art, for he would call it a sin, but we shall be out in the woods all night, a conjuring summer in”.
Two of my favourite characters in the book are Parnesius and Pertinax, the two Roman soldiers who are sent to Hadrian’s Wall by Maximus (Macsen Wledig). I am convinced that their friendship was actually love.
Kipling’s view of British history is rather optimistic and deterministic, especially his somewhat romantic view of the Norman Conquest; and his portrayal of Kadmiel, the medieval Jewish gentleman, is somewhat problematic, though Kipling is clearly sympathetic to the medieval Jewish community, despite repeating the myth that they were somehow destined to be moneylenders (whereas it was because they were forced to be).
It’s necessary to read this book with a critical perspective. Even as a child, I found some of the poetry in it a bit too much. However, the excellent bits outweigh the flaws, in my opinion (and it was written in 1906).
One can definitely see how this book, by instilling a love of the countryside and of history, contributed to the Pagan revival. The prose is beautiful, the characters deftly drawn, and the tone elegiac and wistful (though not to the same extent as the sequel, Rewards and Faeries).
Two of my favourite characters in the book are Parnesius and Pertinax, the two Roman soldiers who are sent to Hadrian’s Wall by Maximus (Macsen Wledig). I am convinced that their friendship was actually love.
Kipling’s view of British history is rather optimistic and deterministic, especially his somewhat romantic view of the Norman Conquest; and his portrayal of Kadmiel, the medieval Jewish gentleman, is somewhat problematic, though Kipling is clearly sympathetic to the medieval Jewish community, despite repeating the myth that they were somehow destined to be moneylenders (whereas it was because they were forced to be).
It’s necessary to read this book with a critical perspective. Even as a child, I found some of the poetry in it a bit too much. However, the excellent bits outweigh the flaws, in my opinion (and it was written in 1906).
One can definitely see how this book, by instilling a love of the countryside and of history, contributed to the Pagan revival. The prose is beautiful, the characters deftly drawn, and the tone elegiac and wistful (though not to the same extent as the sequel, Rewards and Faeries).
diary_of_a_hobbit's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
This book is one of my absolute favourites! I've reread it multiple times over the years and each time I am as fascinated as the first.
Puck of Pook's Hill is a series of short stories that are set in different periods of English history. They are narrated to two siblings, Dan and Una, by either Puck, an elf, or a guest that he magically plucks out of history.
So this book literally combines two things that I love: history and fantasy, and does it in a very beautiful way.
If you are interested in the history of England and love fantasy, I highly recommend Puck of Pook's Hill.
There is also a sequel called Rewards and Fairies that is also amazing.
[Note: I read this book in Russian (that particular edition was translated by Grigory Kruzhkov)].
Puck of Pook's Hill is a series of short stories that are set in different periods of English history. They are narrated to two siblings, Dan and Una, by either Puck, an elf, or a guest that he magically plucks out of history.
So this book literally combines two things that I love: history and fantasy, and does it in a very beautiful way.
If you are interested in the history of England and love fantasy, I highly recommend Puck of Pook's Hill.
There is also a sequel called Rewards and Fairies that is also amazing.
[Note: I read this book in Russian (that particular edition was translated by Grigory Kruzhkov)].
mattstebbins's review against another edition
2.0
I applaud what I think Kipling was trying to do. I'd've rather re-read Chaucer, though.
[2.5 stars for effort, and for the things I think of when I think of Kipling.]
[2.5 stars for effort, and for the things I think of when I think of Kipling.]