The Railway Children
After their father is mysteriously forced to leave home, the three children and their mother leave their comfortable house in London and go to live in a cottage in the country near a railway track. The children soon make friends with the Station Master, the Porter and a friendly old gentleman, who waves to them from the morning train. Peter, Bobbie and Phyllis enjoy several exciting adventures and even become the heroes of the village. But the mystery of their father remains unsolved, until one day...
All Aboard for Adventure: "The Railway Children" and the Enchantment of Early Railways
Edith Nesbit's classic children's novel, "The Railway Children," whisks readers away on a charming journey through the English countryside, intertwined with the magic of early railways. Published in 1906, the book tells the heartwarming story of three siblings, Bobbie, Peter, and Phyllis, whose lives are upended when their father mysteriously disappears. Forced to leave their comfortable London home, they move to a small cottage near a railway track, embarking on a series of exciting adventures fueled by their love for trains and their unwavering hope for their father's return.
The setting of the book, nestled alongside the bustling railway, pulsates with the energy and intrigue of the early 20th century. Trains, then a relatively new invention, were still shrouded in an aura of wonder and excitement. Nesbit masterfully captures this fascination, weaving the railway into the very fabric of the children's lives. From waving to the friendly old gentleman on the morning train to helping the Station Master with his duties, the tracks become their playground, their source of solace, and their link to the outside world.
The children's adventures are as diverse as the characters they encounter. They solve a local mystery involving a missing dog, witness a dramatic train rescue, and even become heroes themselves by helping to prevent a train crash. Through these experiences, Nesbit subtly instills values of courage, resourcefulness, and compassion in her young readers.
But beyond the thrilling escapades, "The Railway Children" is ultimately a story about family, resilience, and the unwavering power of hope. The children's unwavering belief in their father's return, even in the face of uncertainty, is a testament to the human spirit's ability to persevere in the face of adversity.
The book's enduring appeal lies not only in its timeless themes but also in its rich historical context. Nesbit's vivid descriptions bring the early days of railways to life, allowing readers to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of this transformative era. From the rhythmic chug of the steam engines to the clanging of bells and the bustle of passengers, the railway becomes a character in itself, adding depth and texture to the narrative.
Whether you're a train enthusiast, a history buff, or simply a lover of classic children's literature, "The Railway Children" offers an enchanting escape into a world of adventure, hope, and the captivating allure of the early railways. So, grab your ticket and climb aboard, for a journey that will leave you breathless with its charm and long after the final whistle blows.
Bonus:
- For further reading and historical context, you can include information about the development of railways in England during the 19th century, highlighting key figures like George Stephenson and the impact of railways on society.
- You can also mention film adaptations of the book, such as the 1970 film starring Jenny Agutter and Bernard Cribbins, and discuss how they capture the essence of the story and the railway setting.
- Finally, consider encouraging your readers to share their own memories or experiences with railways, creating a sense of community and engagement around the book's themes.
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By Frances Hodgson Burnett (Hardcover)
By Kenneth Grahame (author) (Hardcover)
Edith Nesbit, English Writer and Poet 
Weaving Magic in Children's Literature
Welcome to our blog where we explore the lives of extraordinary people who have left an indelible mark on literature. Today we're looking at Edith Nesbit, a groundbreaking writer whose imagination and storytelling skills have captivated readers for generations.Welcome to our blog where we explore the lives of extraordinary people who have left an indelible mark on literature. Today, we look at Edith Nesbit, a groundbreaking writer whose imagination and storytelling skills have captivated readers for generations.
Edith Nesbit (1858-1924) was an English author who left an indelible mark on children's literature. Beyond her magical stories of talking animals, time travel and adventure, she was a complex woman who wore many hats: social activist, political thinker and poet. Her legacy continues to fascinate readers and inspire a new generation of writers.
From Bohemian Adventures to Socialist Advocacy:
Born in London to a family of intellectuals, Nesbit's childhood was marked by frequent travels and a bohemian spirit. She embraced her artistic side, writing poetry and even performing on stage. Her life took a turn towards social activism in the 1880s, as she became deeply involved with the Fabian Society, a socialist movement advocating for gradual reform. She married Hubert Bland, a fellow Fabian, and together they co-authored political articles and essays.
The Birth of a Children's Literature Legend:
Nesbit's literary journey began with his emergence as a prolific writer of children's literature in the late 19th century. His works, including "The Story of the Treasure Seekers" (1899) and "The Railway Children" (1906), presented a new narrative style that resonated with both young and adult readers. Nesbit was a pioneer in placing magical elements in everyday settings and creating stories that transcend age boundaries.
Edith Nesbit played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of fantasy literature. Her ability to seamlessly blend the fantastic with the mundane paved the way for later writers, including CS Lewis and JK Rowling. Nesbit's influence is particularly evident in his famous work "Five Boys and Him" (1902), in which he introduces readers to a mischievous sand fairy who can grant wishes with unintended consequences.
Nesbit's financial difficulties led him to explore writing for children. His first children's book, "The Story of the Treasure Seekers", about the beloved Bastable family and their search for buried riches, was published in 1899. This success was followed by a series of iconic books such as "The Railway Children", "The Five Boys and Him" and "The Phoenix and the Carpet".
Personal life:
Nesbit's personal life was as intriguing as his stories. He was a founding member of the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation whose members included George Bernard Shaw. Her marriage to fellow Fabian Hubert Bland was unusual and marked by complexities that would influence her later work.
Beyond the Magic Carpet:
Nesbit's stories weren't just about fantastical adventures. She wove social commentary into her narratives, tackling themes of poverty, gender roles, and class inequalities. Her characters, though often children, were realistically portrayed with flaws and complexities, making them relatable and engaging.
A Legacy of Imagination and Activism:
Nesbit's influence on children's literature is undeniable. She is credited with pioneering the genre of modern fantasy, blending real-world settings with fantastical elements. Her characters continue to resonate with readers, and her books have been adapted for film, television, and theatre.
Beyond her literary contributions, Nesbit's life and work offer a glimpse into the social and political landscape of late Victorian and early Edwardian England. Her commitment to social justice and her unconventional lifestyle challenge societal norms and inspire readers to think critically about the world around them.
Edith Nesbit's legacy endures through her timeless stories and her pioneering role in children's literature. Her ability to capture the essence of childhood imagination, coupled with her fearless exploration of societal norms, makes her a literary icon. Nesbit's impact extends beyond her era, as her works continue to captivate readers and inspire new generations of writers.
Conclusion:
Join us in celebrating the life and literary contributions of Edith Nesbit, a visionary author who dared to transport readers to worlds where the extraordinary and the everyday coexist. Through her enchanting narratives, Nesbit invites us to embrace the magic within our own lives and to appreciate the timeless allure of a well-told tale.
I wish I could say it was three days after, because in fairy tales it is always three
days after that things happen. But this is not a fairy story, and besides, it really
was four and not three, and I am nothing if not strictly truthful.
Edith Nesbit had her tongue well in her cheek, of course, as she came to the end of her children's classic, published 110 years ago in 1906. After all, this story of three children forced into sudden poverty with their mother when their father is arrested has its full share of romance: the children thrive in their new environment next to a railway cutting, they make friends everywhere they go, and by a wonderful coincidence one of these friends turns out to be exactly the person who can help them. And yet, the enduring strength of the book has less to do with its romance than its truth. This is a real family, under real conditions, talking as people really talked—a far cry from the magical time-travel of THE STORY OF THE AMULET which preceded it.
Though equally fascinated by steam trains, I did not read the book as a child. I ordered it now as a footnote to Helen Dunmore's recent novel EXPOSURE, which takes THE RAILWAY CHILDREN as its narrative frame—something I naturally didn't know until it was pointed out by friends. Dunmore's focus is primarily on why the father was arrested; with Nesbit, this is simply a fact that the reader must conjecture in the opening pages; it is not until quite close to the end that we hear any details (and discover that the case is very close to Dunmore's). But I think she is right to say nothing up front; it reproduces exactly the child's feeling of being carted off to new places and situations without understanding the adult reason behind it. It also gives a clear foundation for their resilience: their task is simply to help their mother get the new cottage in order, take chores off her hands, and make the most of their new environment.
The three children are Roberta (12), Peter (10), and Phyllis (8). But the author explains on page 30:
— I am tired of calling Roberta by her name. I don't see why I should. No one else
did. Everyone else called her Bobbie, and I don't see why I shouldn't.
So we get to know them by boys' names: Bobbie, Peter, and Phil. This matches the children's active independence, yet Nesbit does not turn the girls into tomboys; her gender balance is carefully thought out, and breaks the usual pattern of an elder boy leading the girls. Peter is there for physical strength and mechanical ingenuity, but Roberta is the one with the most responsibility, the one closest to her mother, the thinker, and in many ways the protagonist of the book. It is she who suggests that they get up early on their first morning, light the fire, lay the table, and put the kettle on for breakfast. After which, they go outside, discover the railway, and lose track of time:
— They had made an excellent fire, and had set the kettle on it at about half past five.
So that by eight the fire had been out for some time, the water had all boiled away,
and the bottom was burned out of the kettle. Also they had not thought of washing
the crockery before they set the table.
But their mother is nothing if not resilient too, and soon the children are off to visit the little rural station and make the first of their many friends. Even here, Nesbit values truth. Very few of the adults who come to help them fall in love with their cuteness at first sight; the children make mistakes and have to work on repairing them. Peter makes friends with the Station Master only after he has been caught "mining" coal from the heap outside the station and has duly apologized. Perks, the porter who tells them so much about trains, is as easily offended as befriended, and the children risk upsetting him when they plan something nice for his birthday. The bargee whom they encounter on the nearby canal behaves like an aggressive bully, and it is only when they help him in an unexpected crisis that they see his good side. I was also struck by the fact that while the book is naturally full of adventures, they are mostly of a small and believable kind. The biggest of them, when they save a train from crashing, is not saved for some grand climax, as another author might do, but placed before the half-way point in the book. It is the simplicity and naturalness of the book that makes it great—not its romance but its truth.
In reviewing THE STORY OF THE AMULET, I pointed out Nesbit's occasion tendency to insert herself into the story as a moralist, generally to advance her socialist beliefs. There is much less of that here. A Russian emigré who shows up in the village turns out to be a celebrated leftist writer, but little else is made of it. There is one slightly awkward scene where the local doctor tell Peter how to treat girls, but in general the life-lessons are introduced subtly in the everyday course of events; this is indeed an improving book to read, but the kids will never know it! Of course, Nesbit does introduce herself frequently into the action as author, with charming effect as in my first two quotations above. The mother who spends her days writing stories for sale while the children roam free in the countryside is Nesbit herself, who passed through some hard times of her own. Which leads to a delightful example of what we would now call meta-fiction:
— "I say," said Peter, musingly, "wouldn't it be jolly if we all were in a book and you were
writing it? Then you could make all sorts of jolly things happen, and make Jim's legs get
well at once and be all right tomorrow, and Father come home soon and — "
Little does Peter know, they are already in a book, and their mother is indeed making all sorts of jolly things happen. But she is not doing it the easy way. And that is what makes this more than a footnote to a later novel, more than a charming period piece, but a true classic, as satisfying now as in the year it was written.
Does this mean the book becomes a mere vehicle for obvious preachments? I think not; it would have irritated me if it had! No, it simply, over and over, through showing how the children interact with each other, other people, and situations, shows us the benefits of living by the "good old fashioned values". We keep feeling fresh and innocent ourselves, and cheering the children on in their efforts to solve mysteries and make good things happen. We end up relishing such innocence for ourselves.
I was sorry when the book ended, because I knew I'd now go back to the thrillers and political intrigue stories I tend to read; they would interest me, educate me, and in some way dismay me. I'd escape their impact saying "This is only fiction anyhow." But I didn't want to escape the impact of "The Railway Children", and I hope very sincerely that this book is NOT "only fiction anyhow".
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
It was very innovative staging in the huge station area for the old nineteenth century story. The playing area consisted of flat platforms to represent rooms and playing areas pushed over rail into place by men. Various platforms were moved back and forth. A bridge over the tracks at one end and the rail platforms themselves were used as theater space. At the end of Act 1, a nineteenth century old steam engine, the Sterling Single, a real locomotive built in 1870 comes down the track. It's the Green Dragon that's been a feature of the play since the beginning. It's a play highlight. It's pulling the Old Gentleman's smoking saloon car from 1870.
Two girls and a boy, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis are played by adults, and they are reminiscing about their childhood. They had fairly comfortable living quarters with servants until their father was arrested for giving secret documents to enemy agents. Mother and the three children were forced to downsize and move to a small village near a railroad station.
The play shows the mother's pluck, resourcefulness and fortitude which the children quickly adopt as well. It's an episodic novel in which the children face one travail after the other. They take in a Russian immigrant writer. They get to know the station porter and the station master as well as the kindly old gentleman from the train who helps them out three times. The local doctor proves to be very generous to them. Everything comes out for the best in this tender story which is made all the more interesting after seeing the Waterloo Station version.
On the other hand, there are some parts of the text - mostly the verses and writings of the children and their mother which don't come through (possibly because they were originally printed in a different font). Being able to read them would have added greatly to my enjoyment and earned the Kindle edition 5 stars instead of the 3 that I am giving it now. The story itself richly deserves 5 stars!
The children are children - sometimes at their most kind and others saying just the wrong thing for not knowing any better. But at heart they were raised right and usually do the right thing. They get off to many adventures while their mother is uncharacteristically distracted by the family's troubles. Following along with them is great fun. Their capacity for helping others is quite heartwarming, as is their family dynamic. Travel back to a simpler time and see hardship through the eyes of a child, who can't quite grasp the why of it but can find the joy in life regardless.
Otherwise good.
Fast delivery.
