Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The Railway Children is one of the first children's books with a real life setting and very real problems to be solved. Edith Nesbit (1958 - 1924) was an English poet and author known for her children's books. She is credited with writing over 60 books for children. Nesbit was co-founder of the Fabian Society, which later became the Labour Party. Nesbit wrote about the real world not a fantasyland. She invented the children's adventure story. In The railway Children a family is living near a railway after their father has been falsely accused of selling state secrets to the Russians. The children spend their time watching the trains and waving at the passengers. . They become friends with Perks, the station porter, and with The Old Gentleman who travels on the 9: 45 train. The Old Gentleman l helps them free their father.
Synopsis
One of the most popular classics of all time, with a wonderful introduction by multi-million bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson.
When Father is taken away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station, and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. Each day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis run down the field to the railway track and wave at the passing London train, sending their love to Father. Little do they know that the kindly old gentleman passenger who waves back holds the key to their father's disappearance.
Also by E. Nesbit, available in Puffin Books
The Phoenix and the Carpet
Five Children and It
Synopsis
The Railway Children is the classic children's story by E. Nesbit. When Father is taken away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station, and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. Each day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis run down the field to the railway track and wave at the passing London train, sending their love to Father. Little do they know that the kindly old gentleman passenger who waves back holds the key to their father's disappearance. One of the best-loved classics of all time, with a wonderful introduction by Jacqueline Wilson. Edith Nesbit was a mischievous child who grew up into an unconventional adult. With her husband, Hubert Bland, she was one of the founder members of the socialist Fabian Society; their household became a centre of the socialist and literary circles of the times. E. Nesbit turned late to children's writing. Her first children's book, The Treasure Seekers, was published in 1899 to great acclaim. Other books featuring the Bastable children followed, and a series of magical fantasy books, including Five Children and It also became very popular. The Railway Children was first published monthly in the London Magazine in 1905, and published as a book in 1906, which has been in print ever since. Other children's books by E Nesbit: The Story of the Treasure Seekers; The Wouldbegoods; The New Treasure Seekers; Complete History of the Bastable Family; Five Children and It; The Phoenix and the Carpet; The Story of the Amulet; The House of Arden; Harding's Luck; The Railway Children; The Enchanted Castle; The Magic City; The Wonderful Garden; Wet Magic; Five of Us and Madeline
About the Author
Edith Nesbit (1858 – 1924), was a mischievous, tomboyish child who grew up to be an unconventional adult. She and her husband were founder members of the socialist Fabian Society and their home became a centre for socialist and literary discussion. Their friends included some of the time’s greatest writers and thinkers, including George Bernard Shaw and H. G. Wells.
Everything about Edith showed her as a woman trying to break out of the mould demanded by English society at the time – she expressed her individuality through her clothes, hairstyle, lifestyle and her habit of speaking forcefully on almost any subject. She lived her socialism and late in life her charitable deeds brought her close to bankrupcy.
E. Nesbit – she always used the plain initial for her writing and was sometimes thought to be a man – started to write for children after years of successful writing for adult magazines. She was asked to write about her childhood but instead of facts chose to describe her happy girlhood in fiction. The result was books still read today, firm bestsellers for decades. She was brilliant at combining real-life situations with elements of fantasy and humour. Films –such as The Railway Children - have kept her stories in the public eye and her magical fantasies, including Five Children and It, continue to delight each new generation of children.