I know it's a million years old but when I was a kid I loved Cpt Marryat's Children of the New Forest. It introduced me to the English Civil War and it has fascinated me ever since.
Two books of historical fiction for children by Jamaican poets living in Britain that my daughter enjoyed, though they are quite sombre: The Tribe by Valerie Bloom, which describes the colonisation of Jamaica by the Spanish, seen from the point of view of an indigenous Taino girl; The Future-Telling Lady by the late James Berry, a series of interlocking stories switching between modern Jamaica and the time of slavery and the slave trade, which is very good indeed.
And another good modern children's historical novel, fair-minded and tautly-written, very much 'show, don't tell': Name upon Name by Sheena Wilkinson, set in Belfast at the time of the First World War and the Easter Rising in Dublin, centred on a schoolgirl of mixed Catholic-Protestant parentage whose family is divided by events and conflicting loyalties.
Well there is Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin, which is set in 18th century Gloucester and London, one of several children's historical novels I bought for my daughter in the hope that she would read them, which in this case I she did I think. It's racier and faster moving than the children's classics, as modern children's fiction has evolved to be in order to survive in an age of distractions. I thought it was a bit sloppily written in places. But the range of what can be broached in a children's novel has widened: this one addresses unwanted pregnancy, infanticide, child labour and slavery.
Jacqueline Wilson has also of course written about Coram's Hospital children, in Hetty Feather, in which the runaway narrator is rescued by a character who is part Josephine Butler, part the author in Victorian dress.
I loved Cynthia Harnett as a kid! When we cleared out my parents’ house after they died I took back a few of them - including The Wool Pack. I read it again a few years ago. I thought it stood up really well. Thanks so much for writing about her!
I thoroughly enjoyed your vivid portrayal of Gloucestershire’s rich history, from Northleach wool to Slad mills, was enlightening. Your storytelling brilliantly captures the essence of the Macmillans' journey. Looking forward to more of your work!
I loved historical fiction as a child but somehow could never get past the first few chapters of The Wool Pack. I loved Barbara Willard's Mantlemass novels which were similar themes in some ways - merchant families, arranged marriages.
Others I've loved and reread as an adult: A Fine Taste for Scarlet and Miniver (EL Konigsberg) about Eleanor of Aquitaine - great fun, has Eleanor sitting on a cloud relating her life from Heaven! - Catherine, Called Birdie by Karen Cushman, also medieval and hugely entertaining, and my absolute favourites, Antonia Forest's Players novels.
Also if it's not a breach of substack etiquette, I've written a post on Laurie Lee's memoir too recently - on what it reveals about a lost world between the wars.
I saw the Rosemary Leach film when I was a teenager and it was so beautiful - I still remember it very clearly so I must have seen it more than once. Laurie Lee appeared right at the end. Marvellous book. Stroud and Slad are on my list of places to visit so thanks for this, I really enjoyed it. The Woolpack sounds like a great book too.
How interesting about Edna Healey. All I knew about her was that she wrote a very good biog of Angela Burdett-Coutts (who also fascinates me). Thanks Sarah, really enjoyed this!
I was very happy to see your mention of Cynthia Harnett as I used to love her books. It’s a shame they are out of print as I remember them as exciting adventure stories. I still have my copies of some of them, rescued when my parents’ attic was cleared, and I really should reread them. Like you I loved historical fiction as a child, and still do, and was fortunate to be able to practically inhale the works of Rosemary Sutcliff, Geoffrey Trease and Cynthia Harnett.
He was a very prolific author so I certainly haven’t read all of them but my favourite was Cue for Treason set during the reign of Elizabeth I and involving boy running away from home and joining a theatre troupe, a girl dressed as a boy, a boy dressing as a girl and William Shakespeare. Also rescued from my parents’ attic.
Geoffrey Trease was from Nottingham, like my family, and in the 1930s he wrote Bows Against the Barons, which depicts Robin Hood as a left wing revolutionary. I enjoyed it as a child, also a later, more nuanced, book of his called called Red Towers of Granada, about a medieval English boy who is expelled from his village as a leper. He rescues from attack a man who turns out to be a Jewish doctor, who recognises the boy's condition as minor and treatable. He travels with the Jewish family to Moorish Granada.
Not to be confused with the poet Henry Treece, who also wrote historical fiction for children! I remember one about a Viking warrior who travels to Vinland in North America; I think it was one of a trilogy.
Yes, I remember that too and it was one of a trilogy. I never really connected so well with Henry Treece as I did with Geoffrey Trease, who I think was better with female characters.
I know it's a million years old but when I was a kid I loved Cpt Marryat's Children of the New Forest. It introduced me to the English Civil War and it has fascinated me ever since.
I've heard of it, there was one on my parents' bookshelf, but I've never investigated. Good thought!
Frightening to think of how little people must understand about this country, having understood and learned so little history.
I agree. And all the fun to be had from knowing these stories and understanding our heritage, they are missing so much
Two books of historical fiction for children by Jamaican poets living in Britain that my daughter enjoyed, though they are quite sombre: The Tribe by Valerie Bloom, which describes the colonisation of Jamaica by the Spanish, seen from the point of view of an indigenous Taino girl; The Future-Telling Lady by the late James Berry, a series of interlocking stories switching between modern Jamaica and the time of slavery and the slave trade, which is very good indeed.
And another good modern children's historical novel, fair-minded and tautly-written, very much 'show, don't tell': Name upon Name by Sheena Wilkinson, set in Belfast at the time of the First World War and the Easter Rising in Dublin, centred on a schoolgirl of mixed Catholic-Protestant parentage whose family is divided by events and conflicting loyalties.
Sounds fascinating, thank you!
Well there is Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin, which is set in 18th century Gloucester and London, one of several children's historical novels I bought for my daughter in the hope that she would read them, which in this case I she did I think. It's racier and faster moving than the children's classics, as modern children's fiction has evolved to be in order to survive in an age of distractions. I thought it was a bit sloppily written in places. But the range of what can be broached in a children's novel has widened: this one addresses unwanted pregnancy, infanticide, child labour and slavery.
Jacqueline Wilson has also of course written about Coram's Hospital children, in Hetty Feather, in which the runaway narrator is rescued by a character who is part Josephine Butler, part the author in Victorian dress.
I loved Cynthia Harnett as a kid! When we cleared out my parents’ house after they died I took back a few of them - including The Wool Pack. I read it again a few years ago. I thought it stood up really well. Thanks so much for writing about her!
I thoroughly enjoyed your vivid portrayal of Gloucestershire’s rich history, from Northleach wool to Slad mills, was enlightening. Your storytelling brilliantly captures the essence of the Macmillans' journey. Looking forward to more of your work!
I loved historical fiction as a child but somehow could never get past the first few chapters of The Wool Pack. I loved Barbara Willard's Mantlemass novels which were similar themes in some ways - merchant families, arranged marriages.
Others I've loved and reread as an adult: A Fine Taste for Scarlet and Miniver (EL Konigsberg) about Eleanor of Aquitaine - great fun, has Eleanor sitting on a cloud relating her life from Heaven! - Catherine, Called Birdie by Karen Cushman, also medieval and hugely entertaining, and my absolute favourites, Antonia Forest's Players novels.
Thank you for the recommendations, all new to me!
Also if it's not a breach of substack etiquette, I've written a post on Laurie Lee's memoir too recently - on what it reveals about a lost world between the wars.
It's a great piece, I've just reposted!
I saw the Rosemary Leach film when I was a teenager and it was so beautiful - I still remember it very clearly so I must have seen it more than once. Laurie Lee appeared right at the end. Marvellous book. Stroud and Slad are on my list of places to visit so thanks for this, I really enjoyed it. The Woolpack sounds like a great book too.
Such a beautiful spot. I am very envious.
How interesting about Edna Healey. All I knew about her was that she wrote a very good biog of Angela Burdett-Coutts (who also fascinates me). Thanks Sarah, really enjoyed this!
I've written a long piece about her, The Girl from the Forest, somewhere back last year.
Look forward very much to reading it.
https://open.substack.com/pub/harkness/p/the-girl-from-the-forest-goes-to?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=gqpmg
Thank you
I was very happy to see your mention of Cynthia Harnett as I used to love her books. It’s a shame they are out of print as I remember them as exciting adventure stories. I still have my copies of some of them, rescued when my parents’ attic was cleared, and I really should reread them. Like you I loved historical fiction as a child, and still do, and was fortunate to be able to practically inhale the works of Rosemary Sutcliff, Geoffrey Trease and Cynthia Harnett.
I know the name Geoffrey Trease but don't recognise the book titles...do you have a favourite?
He was a very prolific author so I certainly haven’t read all of them but my favourite was Cue for Treason set during the reign of Elizabeth I and involving boy running away from home and joining a theatre troupe, a girl dressed as a boy, a boy dressing as a girl and William Shakespeare. Also rescued from my parents’ attic.
Geoffrey Trease was from Nottingham, like my family, and in the 1930s he wrote Bows Against the Barons, which depicts Robin Hood as a left wing revolutionary. I enjoyed it as a child, also a later, more nuanced, book of his called called Red Towers of Granada, about a medieval English boy who is expelled from his village as a leper. He rescues from attack a man who turns out to be a Jewish doctor, who recognises the boy's condition as minor and treatable. He travels with the Jewish family to Moorish Granada.
Not to be confused with the poet Henry Treece, who also wrote historical fiction for children! I remember one about a Viking warrior who travels to Vinland in North America; I think it was one of a trilogy.
Yes, I remember that too and it was one of a trilogy. I never really connected so well with Henry Treece as I did with Geoffrey Trease, who I think was better with female characters.