Scan barcode
A review by the_sentimentality_of_books
The Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat
3.0
The Children of the New Forest was written by Captain Marryat and published in 1847 - and the book definitely shows it.
The story purportedly follows the childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood of the four Beverley siblings: two brothers and two sisters. While the livelihoods, activities, and interests of the two boys are followed and do make a very interesting historical novel, the two girls are left out.
When Humphrey, the younger brothers, tells his sister Edith that they shall have bacon from their farm, he says that it will be fun for her because she will be able to cook it for him and his brother. Later, Edward, the elder brother, is deciding where his two sisters will live and claims that it is decided without consulting either one of them.
In sum, the girls are in the book to:
1. Give the boys some to protect
2. Provide housekeeping.
Therefore, I can say it is an enjoyable novel for an adult with same rather dramatic points of intrigue, physical danger, and love. In its history-telling, it is quite biased against the Roundheads, and very pro-Cavalier, but the ways of life, farming, and speaking would make an interesting study.
However, as a children's book, I say no. Being unwittingly sexist, racist and biased it can be studied by adults, but should not be read by either young boys or girls without giving them some very old-fashioned impressions.
The story purportedly follows the childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood of the four Beverley siblings: two brothers and two sisters. While the livelihoods, activities, and interests of the two boys are followed and do make a very interesting historical novel, the two girls are left out.
When Humphrey, the younger brothers, tells his sister Edith that they shall have bacon from their farm, he says that it will be fun for her because she will be able to cook it for him and his brother. Later, Edward, the elder brother, is deciding where his two sisters will live and claims that it is decided without consulting either one of them.
In sum, the girls are in the book to:
1. Give the boys some to protect
2. Provide housekeeping.
Therefore, I can say it is an enjoyable novel for an adult with same rather dramatic points of intrigue, physical danger, and love. In its history-telling, it is quite biased against the Roundheads, and very pro-Cavalier, but the ways of life, farming, and speaking would make an interesting study.
However, as a children's book, I say no. Being unwittingly sexist, racist and biased it can be studied by adults, but should not be read by either young boys or girls without giving them some very old-fashioned impressions.