Product Description
It may be said of Shakespeare that from his works may be collected a system of civil and economical prudence...” —Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON.Download Description
The writings of Shakespeare have been justly termed "the richest, the purest, the fairest, that genius uninspired ever penned."Shakespeare instructed by delighting. His plays alone (leaving mere science out of the question), contain more actual wisdom than the whole body of English learning. He is the teacher of all good - pity, generosity, true courage, love. His bright wit is cut out "into little stars." His solid masses of knowledge are meted out in morsels and proverbs, and thus distributed, there is scarcely a corner of the English-speaking world to-day which he does not illuminate, or a cottage which he does not enrich. His bounty is like the sea, which, though often unacknowledged, is everywhere felt. As his friend, Ben Jonson, wrote of him, "He was not of an age but for all time." He ever kept the highroad of human life whereon all travel. He did not pick out by-paths of feeling and sentiment. In his creations we have no moral highwaymen, sentimental thieves, interesting villains, and amiable, elegant adventuresses - no delicate entanglements of situation, in which the grossest images are presented to the mind disguised under the superficial attraction of style and sentiment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful Book To Introduce Your Children to Shakespere
When searching for a child friendly book of stories based on William Shakespere's works I came across this little gem. The book is authored by Edith Nesbit, best known for her books "The Railway Children, Five Children and It and The Enchanted Castle." Edith has done a beautiful job of translating Shakespere's works into stories which will engage children in the classic works such as "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear." This is a delightful way to introduce your children to the world of William Shakespere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
My copy has been a family treasure, thus read aloud over and over.This is an excelent book to read aloud with families and children.The many small illustrations aid the interest of the young reader and listener.E. Nesbit creates an excellent transition between today's spoken English and the language you will hear in Shakespeare's plays.

See for Yourself...
This book is good for historical value and amusement, but if seeing a Timon of Athens who looks like he waltzed out of a fairy story is bothersome to you, don't buy it.E. Nesbit is firmly of the "Shakespeare is the greatest moralist since Jesus Christ" school, and the plots have been tailored to fit this characterization.The tales have so little to do with actual Shakespeare that your own memorial reconstructions would be more accurate and entertaining.But you can check it out for yourself at .

Great Book
I think that this is a great book to help children and anyone else to understand Shakespeare.It is written in clear easy to understand text and is a great way to get the basic story line of Shakespeare's most poupularplays.I do have one complaint and that is the publisher's spelled E.Nesbit's name wrong they spelled it Nesbitt when it is really Nesbit. It isa good thing E. Nesbit isn't around anymore because I don't think she wouldappriciate it, I know I wouldn't.

Shakespeare for Children
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children provides a rich introduction to 20 plays of the Bard. The preface states: "But Shakespeare wrote for grown-up people... Hence this volume. To reproducethe entertaining stories contained in the plays of Shakespeare, in a formso simple that children can understand and enjoy them, was the object hadin view by the author..."

E. Nesbitt, author of Five Children andIt, does just that. Most of these retellings are 10 to 15 pages long. Readone of Nesbitt's beautiful stories before attending a performance of a playor before participating in a reader's theatre.

The last chapter in thisbook is a collection of quotations from Shakespeare. This provides fodderfor recitations and/or copy work. ... Read more

Amazon.com
A plot summary makes this story sound ordinary by children's literature standards: the summer adventures of four children who discover an enchanted castle and a magic ring. But Edith Nesbit's adored classic (written in 1907) is so much more than the description suggests. Right from the start, the author plays with the idea of magic, teasing us with a sleeping princess who turns out to be a fake. Elsewhere, the magic is "real" as can be--in fact, though written nearly 100 years ago, The Enchanted Castle prefigures the magical realism of modern novels in the matter-of-fact way it weaves the uncanny into the children's everyday life. And, while few authors are confident enough to parody bad writing, Nesbit does it hilariously (and ever so gently) through one character's tendency to "talk like a book": "'To brush his hair and his clothes... was to our hero but the work of a moment,' said Gerald." Things turn scary when the Ugly Wuglies, fake people made from painted cardboard masks, old clothes, and broomsticks, come to life. But on the whole this book about enchantment--much praised by such luminaries as H.G. Wells and Noel Coward--is, simply, enchanting. (Ages 6 and older) --Richard Farr Book Description
The three kids had to spend their summer vacation at a private school in the country -- but they didn't have to like it. They managed to sneak out onto the grounds, where they found a secret castle set in hidden parkland from a fairy tale. And the park is a maze with an enchantedly sleeping princess. . . .Download Description
A short avenue of cypresses led, widening as it went, to a marble terrace that lay broad and white in the sunlight. The children, blinking, leaned their arms on the broad, flat balustrade and gazed. Immediately below them was a lake just like a lake in "The Beauties of Italy" a lake with swans and an island and weeping willows. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

A memorable treasure
I read this book more than fifty years ago when I was a child and have never forgotten it. How wonderful it is to see that it is available at Amazon!It has everything...humor, mystery, a little bit of romance, but best of all...MAGIC!

Delightful
This is a really enjoyable work, truly magical. I just wish we had more children's books like this one and more writers like Edith Nesbit. The children discover a magic ring but their wishes come true in a way they never wanted or expected. One of the best children's books I have read.

This children's classic enchanted me ... Brilliant!
I've always been enraptured by children's books with magic in them, especially when the author writes about ordinary children, weaving magic into the plot with such ease that it's entirely believable.

I found this book in a collection of my granddaughter's childhood books, was out of reading material, so picked it up just for a quick glance.Well, that "quick glance" turned into several hours of pure reading pleasure as I followed elder brother Gerald, his sister Kathleen, and younger brother Jimmy through a cave that ends in a magical garden surrounding an enchanted castle.

When they meet a "sleeping princess" who is not really a princess, but the niece of ... well, that would be a spoiler if I told you more, so I'll refrain from temptation.

Who is this mysterious girl named Mable who leads them on a tour of the castle, showing them some of its mysteries? Are the jewels she conjures real or figments of their imagination? What does a magical ring have to do with it? And how do they become invisible?And just where is the elusive owner of the castle and what connection does he have with the French mistress of Kathleen's school who is in charge of the children for the summer?

Those questions and more are answered by this fantastic author, Edith Nesbitt, in the most charming, believable way.Her writing style is impeccable.

This children's classic was written almost a century before the great HARRY POTTER books, with the adventures being just as original and exciting.THE ENCHANTED CASTLE has everything, including a heart-breaking, old-fashioned love story.

This book held me captive from beginning to end and is written in the style of Edith Nesbit's most popular book, FIVE CHILDREN AND IT!

A must read for all kids ... and kids at heart, like you and me!

Wonderfully Enchanting
I really enjoyed reading this book and I consider it to be Edith Nesbit's best work.The children behave like real children and the plot is full of wonderful magic.The story of how the children made an audience for their theaterproduction out of broomsticks and umbrellas is most charming and endearing.And what happens to that audience after the play is wonderful.It is tragic that not many people know of Edith Nesbit's works.They deserve better.All playwrites and screen writers take note.You could do a lot worse than writing a script based on the works of Edith Nesbit, especially the enchanted castle.

THE PRICE OF MAGIC
This turn-of-the century children's classic proves a gentle fantasy in the style of her FIVE CHILDREN AND IT.Typical of her fantasy stories these children learn the hard way that wishes are not really free--thatsooner or later there is a price to be paid.In this tale three siblings and a neighbor girl (who pretends to be a princess) find themselves relatively free of adult supervision one summer in the English countryside.Obviously the lack of parents and guardians is a critical element for the juvenile protagonists to have the freedom to explore both the physical and magical realms; they quickly realize that no sane adult will take seriously their explanations or narrations of fantastic events.

Gerald, the eldest and a born commander (who imagines himselfthe hero of a novel which he is writing aloud) leads his sister Kathleen and little brother, Jimmy, on quests of exploration into surreal realms.But it is the acquaintance of Mable, the niece of a housekeeper at a nearby castle, who proves the catalyst for a summer of magic, since it was She who discovered a magic ring amid a secret horde of undreamed of treasure--at least she Claims the ring is magic. Inevitably during the
course of this novel each child Must have a turn to try on the magic ring--with curious, amusing, awkward and even dangerous results.Gerald's
resourcefulness and courage are tested often during 12 long chapters.

As in other Nesbit's fantasies the children soon learn the pitfalls of making thoughtless or unintentional wishes.But all literary children seem destined to learn the price of magic the hard way.Despite the absence of the parents and Mable's aunt there are some adults of interest in the story, adults who have a Past and whose star-crossed paths finally cross in the magic gardens, where stone statues come alive in the moonlight--to be witnessed by special folks only.Related with dainty digs at current affairs and social behavior THE ENCHANTED CASTLE provides is a modest stage for the author to express her personal positions and observations of women's and children's roles in a male-dominated world.Despite the typically Victorian attempts to instill Manners into her young readers E. Nesbit's resulting work offers many moments of unexpected humor.With its homespun quaintness it is arguable how much this book will appeal to 21 century young adults.The entire story is enhanced by the delightful pen-and-ink sketches of H. R. Miller in this Puffin Classics edition.


... Read more

Book Description
The four children acquired the magic carpet when they found a special fire egg -- it hatched in their nursery fireplace.The phoenix came from the egg, and when he saw their mother's new Persian rug, he showed them that it was a magical thing -- a flying carpet that would take them any time and that place they could wish for.Witty, genuine, full of timeless sympathy and childish sensibility, _The Phoenix and the Carpet_ offers a special ride through wonders for children of all ages.(Jacketless library hardcover.) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Excellent
This is another adventure of the children in Five Children and It. The children discover a magic carpet and a phoenix egg and have many more adventures. An excellent book.

Free SF Reader
The same kids from Five Children and It are now back at their house in London.One Guy Fawkes night they get a bit too keen with the fire workings, doing some damage to the floor coverings.

The replacement has an odd egg in it.Out of this, they get a Phoenix, a magic carpet, and yet more wish stuff.

Adventuresome Kids
Ms. Nesbit spun an amusing yarn of four easily bored privileged siblings (plus a baby brother) who stumbled quite fortunately on a supernatural bird and a flying carpet. The bird and the carpet fulfill wishes therefore the result is an utterly grand time for the little rascals each time they venture for a ride. And, how they make full use of the magical duo! The author's method of story telling is pretty exciting - there are asides to further relay useful information to the readers which are mostly quite witty. One could even learn how to play tricks on cooks and housemaids from the story. It might at first seem that the carpet would just take the children to one place after another in order to sate their curiosities. Don't be too sure because at the end, the reader will find himself/herself struck by the realization that all their journeys are tied together to complete a tale worth telling. Ms. Nesbit was a genius at attracting her readers' attention. It is a well-told children's fiction.

Wonderful, Classic Literature
Exceptional writing! Many of the children/youth books now-a-days, lack the ability to capture and draw the imagination the way that Nesbit can.She was truly a remarkable author. I can't wait to dive in to more of her works.If only I had been introduced to her writing sooner. Clean, inviting and witty.

wonderful book
I'msurprised there are only four reviews listed..E. Nesbit's books are wonderfully intriguing.The sentence structure is complex, making for more interesting reading. Themoral lessons arethere,butsubtle, not blatant like current popular children's liturature. ... Read more

Book Description
"This is the story of the different ways we looked for treasure, and I think when you have read it you will see that we were not lazy about the looking."This novel, the first in what is often called "the Bastable Saga" begins the story of these six children-- Dora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noel, and Horace Octavius Bastable. When their mother dies and their father's business fails, the children embark on a series of adventures.Says Oswald (the book's narrator) at the start: "I'll tell you what, we must go and seek for treasure: it is always what you do to restore the fallen fortunes of your House."Download Description
When we came out we walked a long way, and when we asked a policeman he said we'd better go back through Smithfield. So we did. They don't burn people any more there now, so it was rather dull, besides being a long way, and Noel got very tired. He's a peaky little chap; it comes of being a poet, I think. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Children of the New Forest
I've read this one.It's by Captain Marryat http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1853261106/qid=1130814728/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3667137-5119336?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
A historical fiction of 4 wealthy children left poor orphans during the English civil war.Quality piece of literature, that is.There is also a video of the story.

A GREAT BOOK -- and a comment on the references
I find it odd that a book should be faulted because a reader doesn't understand all the references. For me as a child, puzzling out what phrases like "Let dogs delight" meant was fun -- even when I never did figure it out, or didn't figure it out until years later when I came upon the source. That was fun, too: to be reading something else or traveling in England and suddenly get the reference -- and think "So THAT's what she meant!"

But the references are a minor detail.

This was one of my favorite books as a child and I now think it is one of the greatest books ever written for children: funny, insightful, well-written, inspiring -- and unexpectedly moving in places, too. I still laugh out loud when I read it, and I still admire the children enormously: for their imaginations, resourcefulness, kindness to each other, loyalty, and, perhaps most of all, for their very English courage -- the way they deal with what drearier people would complain about.

Philosophically, I very much object to the idea that everything in a book should be easy to understand and known already to the readers. Surely one of the joys of reading is to be exposed to new ideas, people, places -- to learn?

Another great writer for children, PL Travers, the author of MARY POPPINS, writes about the enormous pleasure and stimulation she (as a child) derived from trying to puzzle out the meanings of phrases in adults' conversation, such as "she lived on her capital." (She phrases it better than I do here -- but she as a child imagined this aunt as a sort of ogress, nibbling on her own fingers and toes during an afternoon nap.)

It's probably true that E.Nesbit's writing is not for everyone-- but what is? I for one think it's great that children still love her -- and despite all the efforts that have been made to dumb their books and everything else down,that they still enjoy puzzling out (or simply accept and move on from) what they don't understand at a first glance.

Many authors -- Noel Streatfield and CS Lewis to name two more - have paid tribute to E.Nesbit. Noel Coward kept copies of her books by her bed. She still makes me laugh out loud, and very few authors from any era can do that.

Cultural Reference "Let dogs delight..."
Some of the cultural references in the book are obscure, but finding what they mean can be a lot of fun. Here is the context of "Let dogs delight..." It is from an old hymn to encourage children to get along with each other. Here is the text:

Song 16. Against quarrelling and fighting. (8,6,8,6)
Let dogs delight to bark and bite,
For God has made them so:
Let bears and lions growl and fight,
For `tis their nature, too.
But, children, you should never let
Such angry passions rise:
Your little hands were never made
To tear each other's eyes.
Let love through all your actions run,
And all your words be mild:
Live like the blessed Virgin's Son,
That sweet and lovely child.
His soul was gentle as a lamb;
And as his stature grew,
He grew in favour both with man,
And God his Father, too.
Now, Lord of all, he reigns above;
And from his heavenly throne
He sees what children dwell in love,
And marks them for his own.

Funny in an Original Way.
The Treasure Seekers is written from the point of view of a young British boy trying along with his siblings to recover "the lost treasures of the house of Bastable."

The book is crammed with hilarity.To begin with, the speaker says that he will not give away who he is- "While the story is going on you may be trying to guess, only I bet you don't."Throughout the book, he makes little digs about his siblings, and adds things like, "Oswald often thinks of very intersting things.And directly he thought of it he did not keep it to himself, as some boys would have, but he told the others."

His writing is very straightforward and honest (if biased), like a boy.And he does not try to be funny at all.Some ironies are obvious to the reader, making us chuckle while Oswald is very serious about them.

On the whole, Oswald is very likeable and understandable and creative, as are Dora, Dicky, Alice, Noel, and H.O.They get into scrapes with their good intentions, but the ending (in Oswald's words) "is like what happens in Dickens's books; but I think it was much jollier to happen like a book."

Classic amusing (very English) adventure
The Treasure Seekers

The six Bastable children are determined to restore their family fallen fortunes. They do not know exactly what it was that made their fortunes "fall" but it had something to do with mother dying, father being sick and his business partner running away. This depressing information is brought about casually and is merely the background for what is about to follow - a (very funny) treasure hunt practiced upon in different ways. Dora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noel and H.O. all have different plans to get to their goal, ranging from helping an elderly gentlemen in distress (absence of apparent distress is a small obstacle) to answering a newspaper ad promising 2 pounds a week earned in your spare time - and are about to systematically try out all of them.
The story is told by one of the Bastable children, one that does not wish to reveal his identity. It is a great wonder therefore that Oswald gets such a favorable description..."Oswald put lumps of coal on the fire with his fingers, so as not to make a noise. He is a very thoughtful boy, and he did not wipe his fingers on his trouser leg as perhaps Noel or H.O. would have done..."
This is a lesser-known story of Edith Nesbit but is the first book published by her and a real masterpiece. This book is just as lovely as her more famous "Railway Children" and like that story works on both the adult and the child level. The book is full of detailed descriptions of conversations, food (very British), grave decisions and pretend play. The Bastable children do not feel miserable unless reminded and the book is a great, very amusing read. The language (which can sometimes be quite difficult for the modern reader) is, as Oswald explains, sometimes taken out of books and especially the "Jungle Book" ("Good Hunting" they wish each other). Contrary to other reviewers, I enjoyed the "air of another time" even if I did not always understand all the expressions.
This is a story of children in another era, trying to entertain themselves when they cannot afford school and need to struggle alone without the presence and explanations of adults (their self made explanations to unclear expressions, such as "seven times removed from the queen" are hilarious). The story is very cosmopolite in the sense that these are really stories of human kindness and nobility in all its forms. This is something adults and children alike can share, each according to his perceptions. The story is so rich with a sense of a different time, adventure, humor and human sociology that anyone can find something to suit his heart.
... Read more

Book Description
"It had been a great house once, with farms and fields, money and jewels -- with tenants and squires and men-at-arms. The head of the house had ridden out three days' journey to meet King Henry at the boundary of his estate, and the King had ridden back with him to lie in the tall State bed in the castle guest-chamber. The heir of the house had led his following against Cromwell; younger sons of the house had fought in foreign lands, to the honor of England and the gilding and regilding with the perishable gold of glory of the old Arden name."

The Arden family has fallen on hard times -- Edred and his sister, Elfrida, live in a small cottage with their Aunt Edith near their ancestral home.When the elderly Lord Arden dies, Edred inherits the House of Arden, but discovers he must restore the fabled Arden "treasure" before his next birthday or all will be lost. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

For what age?
I was hoping to read this book to my 7 year old boy. It was heavy for him and somewhat slow. The book requires maturity and sophisticated vocabulary,somehow it does not fit the pace at which our kids live now.

It certainly can be appreciated by an older, more mature kid, who loves the Englishlanguage. It is beautifully written.

Favorite books of my childhood
I got this and "Hardings Luck" one christmas about twentyfive years ago. These stories have stayed with me throughout my adult life and I have never forgotten how I was swept away by the stories. These books are educational while being simply spellbinding...my imagination went wild, back then. Absolutely a must!

One of E. Nesbit's best
One of the delightful things about this book is that it treats children as thinking beings, yet still manages to contain all of the magic and adventure of childhood. As in all of her work, E. Nesbit tells an exciting story while encouraging the reader to consider the meaning of things.Oneof the best books written by one of the best children's writers of alltime.

Phantastic Literature of the best kind - to be reread again
Two 10-year-olds are the last survivors of a long line of english aristocrats.The family castle lies in ruins, but the children are determined to restore it to its former glory with the help of the long-lost family treasure. The task seems daunting, but they soon discover there's some intricate, powerful magic in the family crest.. Subsequently the treasure hunt hurtles along at breathtaking pace. The magic includes frequent trips into the turbulent (and dangerous) times of England's feudal past to discover the exact time and place where the treasure was hidden.. This book and it's sequel (or prequel?!) "Harding's Luck" can't be recommended enough. They are children's classics of the nicest kind - not the least bit sirupy - but full of adventure and magic ... Read more

Book Description
This delightful collection contains twelve of Nesbit's most magical stories, both literally and figuratively. It includes such tales as "The Cat-Hood of Maurice," in which a boy learns firsthand about the importance of being kind to animals, "The Princess and the Hedge-Pig," in which the Princess Ozyliza recovers her parents' usurped kingdom with the aid of her true love, "Justnowland," in which a little girl name Elsie saves a kingdom of enchanted crows, and "Kenneth and the Carp," in which a boy is transformed into a carp to retrieve a ring and learns courage. There are useful morals to each story, but they are easily disguised in the enjoyable tales. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

fast book (revised)
I rated this book 2 stars because it went to fast for me. for example, the first story "the cat-hood of Maurice" the only things I got out of the story were that he turned into a cat then by the cat then got turned back into a human at the end by the same cat. My suggestion is that if you are the kind of person who like stories was they speak old English and make you read fast so you have to keep your self at a steady pace this is the book for you.

fast book
i rated this book 2 stars because it went to fast for me. for example, the first story "the cat-hood of maurice" the only things i got out of the story were that he turned into a cat then by the cat then got turned back into a human at the end by the same cat. my suggestion is that if you are the kinda of person who like stories were they speak old english and make you read fast so you have to keep your self at a steady pace this is the book for you.

Valuable Stories
This is a great book. I bought it when I was about to go on a trip, and I couldn't read it until I got on the plane. I allowed myself to read one story. The story was "The White Cat". Now, this was a great story, with a great charector. The white cat enchanted me, especialy because my grandmother had a white china cat. It was all I could do to wait until the plane to read the rest, but I did. The rest of the book was great, too, but my favorite story was still the White Cat. Some of my other favorite stories were Belenda and Bellamont, the Princess and the Hedge Pig, and the Cathood of Maurice. These are really great stories. After awhile, I got my grandma to give me her own white cat, and I felt so glad.These stories have great effects on the readers.

Valuable Stories
This is a great book. I bought it when I was about to go on a trip, and I couldn't read it until I got on the plane. I allowed myself to read one story. The story was "The White Cat". Now, this was a great story, with a great charector. The white cat enchanted me, especialy because my grandmother had a white china cat. It was all I could do to wait until the plane to read the rest, but I did. The rest of the book was great, too, but my favorite story was still the White Cat. Some of my other favorite stories were Belenda and Bellamont, the Princess and the Hedge Pig, and the Cathood of Maurice. These are really great stories. After awhile, I got my grandma to give me her own white cat, and I felt so glad.These stories have great effects on the readers.

Magic and common sense!
I have to say, I love E Nesbit's works! It's not just the magic, it's the characters and humour, and I love the way real-life situations mix in with the magic! (hmmm... mentioned 'magic' twice already...)
There are twelve stories in all... and I can't summarise them all for you... but "Septimus Septimusson" (my favourite) was amusing, about the seventh son of a seventh son who had to go seek his fortune. Unfortunately I can't think of anyway to summarise this story either (gives away the "plot line"), so in conclusion:
MAGIC + HUMOUR + REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS + HUMOUR
I'm sorry it's not a very good review, though. ... Read more

Book Description
Next day we made a Union Jack out of pocket-handkerchiefs and part of a red flannel petticoat of the White Mouse's, which she did not want just then, and some blue ribbon we got at the village shop.Download Description
Next day we made a Union Jack out of pocket-handkerchiefs and part of a red flannel petticoat of the White Mouse's, which she did not want just then, and some blue ribbon we got at the village shop. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

She "gets" children
We have read all of E. Nesbit's books aloud.My kids generally remark how well she "gets" kids.Her stories are timeless and usually involve children who want to be good and yet find that it isn't always easy. A very pleasant read. ... Read more

Product Description
With Illustrations by H. R. Millar ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good book, but hard for young readers
Years ago, I stumbled across a book by Edward Eager (Knight's Castle, I believe). This guy wrote books for his children when he ran out of E. Nesbit stories to read to them. So, I discovered E. Nesbit through Edward Eager. When I started reading her, it rapidly became clear that many of my favorite authors were likely influenced by her, so when I found a book that I had not read yet, I was excited.

It's good. It's not as good as her more famous books, and it does not age well. However, there is more creativity in this work than in anything of hers that I have read. Sadly, I'm also older now, and was able to see things in this book that I would not have noticed when I was younger.

The story introduces two children who are forced to live together when their caretakers marry. (Unlike The Ogre Downstairs, I don't find fault with this plot device because the book is set around 1900. Culture was quite different then.) The girl (Lucy) quite likes the boy (Phillip), but he does not return her affection because he's upset that his life has changed. This continues when they both get magically sucked into a world that was created when Phillip built a city out of various things around the house.

This is where it gets difficult to read, due to cultural differences. See, the city is populated by the toys that the boy used to build the city. Additionally, the things in the books that he used for walls sometimes come out. So, there are a LOT of references to toys and educational materials that simply aren't common any longer. However, her writing more than makes up for the cultural divide. I am going to share some with you. If you do not wish the spoilers, buy it and read it yourself.


'I was about to tell you,' said Mr. Noah, 'and I will not answer questions. Of course it is magic. Everything in the world is magic, until you understand it.
(Mr. Noah is a character from the Noah's Ark toy set.)


'Because,' he said, 'I'm more likely to meet Lucy. Girls always keep to paths. They never explore.'

Which just shows how little he knew about girls.
(This is after Philip loses Lucy due to a strange series of circumstances.)


'But laws can't be useful and beautiful, can they?'

'They can certainly be useful,' said Mr. Noah, 'and,' he added with modest pride, 'my laws are beautiful. What do you think of this? "Everybody must try to be kind to everybody else. Any one who has been unkind must be sorry and say so."'
(Mr. Noah is also the Chief Judge, so he gets to make the laws.)


'Is it something we shall be afraid of too?' Lucy asked. And Philip at once said, 'Oh, then she really did mean to come, did she? But she wasn't to if she was afraid. Girls weren't expected to be brave.'

'They are, here,' said Mr. Noah, 'the girls are expected to be brave and the boys kind.'
(That fact that I grew up reading stuff like this goes a long way to explain my attitudes towards gender, I suppose.)


The sun was shining--there was a sun, and Mr. Noah had told the children that it came out of the poetry books, together with rain and flowers and the changing seasons--and in spite of the strange, almost-tumble-no-it's-all-right-but-you'd-better-look-out way in which the camel walked, the two travellers were very happy. The dogs bounded along in the best of spirits, and even the camel seemed less a prey than usual to that proud melancholy which you must have noticed in your visits to the Zoo as his most striking quality.
(It's true, camels are quite mournful beasts. I'll try to take photos for you some time.)


'Oh, anybody can steer then,' said Billy; 'you if you like.' So it was Lucy who steered the ark into harbour, under Mr. Noah's directions. Arks are very easy to steer if you only know the way. Of course arks are not like other vessels; they require neither sails nor steam engines, nor oars to make them move. The very arkishness of the ark makes it move just as the steersman wishes. He only has to say 'Port,' 'Starboard,' 'Right ahead,' 'Slow' and so on, and the ark (unlike many people I know) immediately does as it is told.
(I probably picked up my proclivity for parentheticals from E. Nesbit as well. Oh, and who can not bask in the awesomeness that is the word "arkishness"?)


* * * * * *

I'm sorry this chapter is cut up into bits with lines of stars, but stars are difficult to avoid when you have to tell about a lot of different things happening all at once. That is why it is much better always to keep your party together if you can. And I have allowed mine to get separated so that Philip, the parrot and the rest of the company are going through three sets of adventures all at the same time. This is most trying for me, and fully accounts for the stars. Which I hope you'll excuse. However.
(Nothing special to say here. I'm just going to let the beauty of that paragraph stand on its own.)


'The more a present costs you, the more it's worth,' said Mr. Noah. 'This has cost you so much, it's the most splendid present in the world.'
(Look, a moral lesson - just hiding in there waiting to jump out at the unwary reader.)


'Oh, dear,' said Lucy despairingly, 'aren't there any women here? They always have more sense than men.'

'What you say is rude as well as untrue,' said the red leader; 'but to avoid fuss we will lead you and your fierce dog to the huts of the women. And then perhaps you will allow us to go to sleep.'
(More gender-preconception correction. Also, note the presence of "red leader". George Lucas must have read E. Nesbit as well.)


So there you go, excellent writing and a story about creativity, magic and the imagination. How can you go wrong?

Well, you can make reference to numerous things that are no longer commonplace (Noah's Ark set, motor veils, white dominoes, draughts, blotting pads, lead soldiers, wooden dollhouse food, etc). You can also casually accept the fact that, at that time, there was a strict social hierarchy in England and only address this book to young children of the upper class. (This is very slightly addressed in the end, but not by much.) Oh, and you can suggest that it's a good idea for children to lick lead paint off of wooden toys.

However, if you can accept the book as a product of its time, and one that did try to address inequality and prejudice, just not everywhere, it's a very enjoyable read. I burst out laughing several times (especially at the end, which I shan't spoil for you). If you like reading children's stories, it's a delight. If you have children, this would be a good read-aloud book. It's not a good children's read-on-your-own book, because of the cultural differences.

I'd give this book six stars, but E. Nesbit already did

Loved it!
I loved this book as a child and still read it from time to time now.I think children who like to create imaginary worlds with their toys will enjoy this book.

Nesbit's best
More than a quarter of a century ago my sisters and I were captivated by E. Nesbit, and particularly by THE MAGIC CITY. Long unavailable (I have scoured used book shops and the Net for copies for various children) it is great to have it easily available once more. I am happy to report that my own daughter was as taken with it as her aunts and I a generation earlier, and like us she at once began building magic cities of her own. I realize that I risk the wrath of Potterites everywhere, but I suspect that in a hundred years children and their parents will still be enjoying The Magic City while Harry is at most the subject of earnest dissertations on odd trends in the early 21st century. If you have a spark of imagination and an eager child handy, grab this book.

If you love Harry Potter, try this!
Years before I even heard of Harry Potter, my mother picked up the 1910 Macmillan hardcover version of this book at a garage sale for a mere fifty cents. (Imagine, a turn-of-the-century copy of a great book for fifty cents!) At first I was put off by its volume (333 pages with illustrations) but I managed to lap up every last word of it...about seven times, I think.

Philip Haldane, our hero, and his half-sister Helen are orphans. Helen has been Philip's sister, teacher and playmate for what seemed like all his life, and there wasn't a shadow of a doubt in his mind that this would go on for ever; he wanted it to. But the unimaginable happens -- Helen marries and goes honeymooning around Europe, leaving Philip at his new residence, friendless and bitter. But soon his new, seemingly dreary life is changed by his embarking on an exciting adventure, so splendid and picturesque that he never would have dreamed that he had built it with his own hands. You see, Philip had always played building games, and he built not with plain old building blocks but with...well, everything -- everything from ink-wells to bronze Egyptian figurines! And it was while he was in the depths of his misery and pining harder than ever to see his sister again that he, the Creator, discovered it -- his Magic City -- and its delightful secrets.

Now, to look at it from a Harry Potter fan's viewpoint. I shouldn't be giving any clues, you really should have read this book at least once before comparing it with HP, but I'll just say...Philip is of course the Harry Potter of this book, but he is also the Ron Weasley because of his initial malice towards his new stepsister, Lucy -- the Hermoine Granger of this book. The Grey Nurse is the Snape/Malfoy/Voldermort figure of this book. The Great Sloth is rather like Scabbers, and Polly is somewhat Hedwig-like.And Mr. Noah is almost EXACTLY like Professor Dumbledore; if you look at the part of the book when he goes to visit the prison, you'll know what I mean :)

If that still doesn't grab the average Potter fan's attention, how about this: J.K. Rowling favours E. Nesbit as one of her must-reads! Enjoy...

The Book I Spent Ten Years Looking For...
Edith Nesbit is one of the most imaginitive children's writers around - and she's been around for a hundred years!

This is her best book. A boy dreams and finds himself in an equally real world, made up of the pretendcities he's made while awake.

I read The Magic City back in 1989 andspent years searching in second hand books stores for my own copy until Itracked it down on amazon.com! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Don't judge this book by its title! Excellent book!
I thought this title sounded really stupid. But I enjoyed the previous book in the series (The Story of the Treasure Seekers) so much that I decided to read this one. And I'm really glad I did. I enjoyed it MORE than the first one.

What's so great about this series is the characters. They are so real, so well-written. The situations they get into are highly amusing, but it's the way the characters are portrayed, esp. Oswald, that makes this one of my all-time favorite books. I am enjoying it for the first time as a grown-up, and my 16 year old son is enjoying it, too. It is LOL funny and I wish it were more well-known.

I read that the character Oswald was one of the all-time favorite characters of JK Rowling, when someone asked her about books and authors she really enjoyed. These books are not really like the Harry Potter books (there's no magic) but the characterization and the humor is very similar. I can see why Jo likes them and I heartily agree. ... Read more

Book Description
Most of the eleven stories in this collection were originally published in The Strand Magazine in 1899. Like Nesbit's other works, these tales are charming and will delight children of all ages. Included are such memorable stories as "The Book of Beasts," (where young Lionel is crowned king, but accidentally releases a dangerous fire dragon on his kingdom and must find a way to return the dragon to the magic book from whence it came), "The Island of the Nine Whirlpools" (featuring a princess and her true love, Nigel, who find the way -- via love and mathematics -- to free her from the curse her wicked father wished upon her), and "The Last of the Dragons" (about a princess who, not wanting to uphold the tradition that all royal maidens must be rescued from the dragon by their prince, insists that she be allowed to fight the dragon herself -- only to discover that this particular dragon is not at all interested in eating Princesses . . . nor in being killed by one). ... Read more

Product Description
Adventure Classics is the second multi-author anthology in the Graphic Classics series. The book presents thirteen stories and poems of danger, horror, comedy and romance; all told in new comics adaptations. Included are "The Valley of the Sorceress" by "Fu Manchu" author Sax Rohmer, "The Masked Ball" by Alexandre Dumas, and "Tigre" by Zane Grey. Plus a classic war story by Damon Runyon, a saga of Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini, and a noir crime tale by "Zorro" author Johnston McCulley. Also more stories from O. Henry, Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert W. Service, Edith Nesbit, Robert Louis Stevenson and Fitz-James O'Brien, as illustrated by Hunt Emerson, Michael Manning, Mary Fleener, Don Marquez, Mark A. Nelson and more great contemporary artists. With a dramatic cover painting by Chris Moore. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Graphic SF Reader
A lot of the artwork here is reminiscent of your independent black and white style stuff, which, I suppose, is not too surprising in a case like this.

The text is of course what is supposed to feature.

The highlight would be the work on Zane Grey's Tigre.

The cartoon style on the Brigadier Gerard and Captain Blood stories is nifty, as well.

Ripping good stuff! Tales of pirates, desert sorceresses, lusty women and dangerous men
The mysterious desert.The high plains.The stormy seas.The dense jungles. These are the places where actions speak louder than words, where the sharp retort of a six-gun decides who is right and who is dead, and a blind tiger stalks with preternatural senses and determination. These are the settings for Adventure Tales, a genre of literature prominent in the 1900's, in which many of the finest authors of the period plied their trades.

In this, their 12th volume, Graphic Classics has assembled an anthology of some of the greatest adventure stories of the time, full of hot blood and cold nights, mystery and magic. These classic tales have been interpreted by a host of talented illustrators, lending their own unique insight into the authors original stories. This is their second anthology book, like Volume 10 "Horror Classics," combining many workers in the genre rather than focusing on a specific author.

Some of the best authors are on display here. Robert Louis Stevenson, author of "Treasure Island," Sax Rohmer, creator of Yellow Peril villain Fu Manchu, Alexander Dumas, creator of The Three Musketeers, renowned cowboy author Zane Grey, Damon Runyon, author of "The Idylls of Miss Sarah" which was adapted as the musical "Guys and Dolls,"Rafael Sabatinin master of Pirate Tales and creator of Captain Blood, Johnston McCully creator of the swashbuckling Zorro, Sherlock Holme's creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Rudyard Kipling, author of "The Jungle Books."

Finally, there is O. Henry, whom if it weren't for Graphics Classics, I might have known nothing more of than the sweet Christmas fable, "The Gift of the Magi," rather than met him as a scribbler of dark cowboy adventures.

This volume contains:

The Wind Blew Shrill and Sharp - A lusty sea poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. Skot Olsen provides an excellent and strong sailor to accompany the compelling verse.

In the Valley of the Sorceress - Egypt was a mysterious and magical place at the time, andSax Rohmer weaves a web of desire and danger.An archaeologist attempts to open the hidden tomb of Sorceress Queen Hatasu, but finds his efforts daunted, and his soul beguiled by a beautiful Arab maiden.Illustrator JB Bonivert brings a unique and fanciful style to this classic adventure.

The Masked Ball - By Alexander Dumas.A short and dark tale of heartbreak and desire, accompanied by a hedonistic masked ball where people seek to drown their loneliness and hide their faces.Michael Manning provides a dark atmosphere, heavy with black spaces, as an appropriate accompaniment.

Tigre - The jungles of Mexico are the setting for this tale of lust and revenge.By Zane Grey, an old farmer is a master of wild animals, particularly his blind brutish tiger named Tigre.The only thing he can't tame is his young and pretty wife. Who stalks who in the dense jungle?A straight-forward but perfect comic book adaptation by Don Marquez, particularly of the lovely Senora.

The Shooting of Dan McGrew - A popular cowboy poem by Robert W. Service, adapted with humor and pathos by Hunt Emerson. A lonely miner, a dangerous gambler, and the lady that's known as Lou.

Two Men Named Collins - Damon Runyon gives us a sad and silently heroic of two soldiers who share the same name.On is lonely and ugly, one is popular and handsome.But the one holds the secret of the other, and nobility is not always what it seems.Illustrator Noel Tuazon does a spectacular adaptation of this tail, lending even more weight and atmospher to the yarn.

Blood Money -An adventure of Rafael Sabatinin's celebrated rouge Captain Blood.A straight-forward comic book adaptation by Kevin Atkinson, this is a clever celebration of the key to Captain Bloods success.Pure luck.

Gunga Din -Rudyard Kipling gives us a blood-rousing poem of an Indian water bearer and the Thuggee wars.The prose is amazing. "But when it comes to slaughter, you will do your work on water, an' you'll lick the bloomin' boots of 'im that's got it."Great illustrations by Mary Fleener, this was the first time I had read this classic poem.

The Man without a Shadow - An Irish short story author, this is a companion piece to "A Day-Dream" which appears in "Horror Classics."A whimsical adaptation by Milton Knight of a clever tale.

The Mystery of the Semi-Detached - I always knew Edith Nesbit as the author of the children's tales "The Boxcar Children," but little did I know she had this tale of murder and ghosts in her.With excellent Victorianesque illustrations by Antonella Caputo.

The Stolen Story - Johnston McCully is best known for swashbuckling, but this tale of fictional theft is equally gripping. A man's dreams are met, although they turn into a nightmare.With appropriately grotesque illustrations by Chris Pelletiere.

The Crime of the Brigadier - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had many characters, one of them Brigadier Gerard, a teller of tall-tales and adventurer in Napoleon's army.This funny yarn is comically adapted by Nick Miller is a suiting style.

The Roads We Take -Another black tale of cowboys by O. Henry, a story of betrayal, and a man's true character.Outlaw Shark Dodson saw two roads ahead of him, both leading to the same ending.A bleak story, with a perfect adaptation by Pedro Lopez.So good I immediately read it again after finishing it.

As exciting, wild, and spooky to read as its predecessors
The twelfth volume in the "Adventure Classics" series of graphic novels and short story collections, the reader is treated to some of the finest adventure writing by some of the most talented authors, and adapted to the graphic novel format by illustrators and artists of matching caliber. The stories comprising this issue include: "In the Valley of the Sorceress" by Sax Rohmer, ill. by J. B. Bonivert; "The Masked Ball" by Alexandre Dumas, ill. by Michael Manning; "Two Men Named Collins" by Damon Runyon, ill. by Noel Tuazon; "Tigre" by Zane Grey, ill. by Don Marquez; "Blood Money" by Rafael Sabatini, ill. by Kevin Atkinson; "The Stolen Story" by Johnston McCulley, ill. by Chris Pelletiere; "Gunga Din", by Rudyard Kipling, ill. by Mary Fleener, and more. Thrilling tales of the past century brought to life in a wide variety of bold, black-and-white styles make Adventure Classics Volume 12 as exciting, wild, and spooky to read as its predecessors.
... Read more

Book Description
The five children found the Sand-fairy while they were exploring in the gravel pit. "Don't you know a Sand-fairy when you see one?" it asked them.The Sand-fairy smoothed his long ratlike whiskers and smiled between them. I daresay you have often thought what you would do if you had three wishes given you."We want," said Robert slowly, "to be rich beyond the dreams of something or other."But we all know that wishes for avarice never work out the way they are supposed to. . . . and to his credit, the Sand-fairy was never mean spirited, nor vengeful, nor destructive. But he cartainly could be _weird_. . . .(Jacketless library hardcover.) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Excellent
The children unearth (literally) a Psammead (sand fairy) and it has to grant them wishes. However the wishes don't turn out quite the way the children wanted. I don't want to spoil it for you but you are sure to enjoy it.

Free SF Reader
A bunch of kids in England move from the big smoke to the country.After they get there, they discover a bizarre grumpy weird looking supernatural guy.

Due to various rigmarole, this discovery means that said oddity grants them a bunch of wishes.Being kids, they generally wish for kids adventure type stuff.

Students in 5th grade at glen grove school
I think The Five Children and it is a great book. I read it because I have been reading this book for school and at first, it didn't look so good (the book) I liked how the chapters are like little separate stories. My favorite story (chapter) was when the children whished that they were in a besieged castle. I thought it was a great book and Irecommend it for everyone that likes fantasy books.

Classic Tale Comes to Life for Modern-Day Readers
Books of Wonder once again brings a classic E. Nesbit tale back to life for readers young and all to enjoy. Brimming with fun and fantasy, as well as realistic, believeable story-telling, this is an adventure that will keep you guessing what will happen next.

This adventure happens when five children (one still more of a baby) find a Psammead, or sand-fairy. They learn that this creature is capable of granting them wishes, although it asks that they only make wishes once a day. So the wishing begins, but the kids come to find that generally the wishes cause them more trouble than fun. Meanwhile, the Psammead seems perplexed, wondering why they don't wish for practical, solid things, rather than fanciful things, like castles, or high-concepts, like being wanted.

This book is illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, who also did the illustrations for "The Enchanted Castle," also released by Books of Wonder. Like the book, these illustrations are an excellent blend of fantasy and reality. This book also includes an informative Afterword.

I understand that "Five Children and It" also recently became a major motion picture. I haven't yet had a chance to see it, but I'm really looking forward to watching it.

ONE OF A KIND! THIS AUTHOR HAS IMAGINATION with a capital "I" ...
One of the first things I look for when purchasing a child's book is the IMAGINATION of the author. This one passed with flying colors. I'm an adult and I adored this book, but not everyone is like me.

I recommend this book for the 4-8 age range because bigger kids want stronger excitement, but I'm sure there are other BIG KIDS AT HEART, like me, who will enjoy it, no matter what their age.

One thing I know for sure, the enchanting art will appeal to everyone.

This book is a fun read with the cutest characters imaginable.Give it a try!

... Read more

Book Description
You will eat your breakfast before it's cold, won't you?' said Anthea. 'Yes, we had a splendid time. The charm made it all dark, and then greeny light, and then it spoke. Oh! I wish you could have heard it--it was such a darling voice--and it told us the other half of it was lost in the Past, so of course we shall have to look for it there!'Download Description
You will eat your breakfast before it's cold, won't you?' said Anthea. 'Yes, we had a splendid time. The charm made it all dark, and then greeny light, and then it spoke. Oh! I wish you could have heard it--it was such a darling voice--and it told us the other half of it was lost in the Past, so of course we shall have to look for it there!' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

An all but lost classic
E. Nesbit's books are to be recommended to every child with spirit and imagination.All her books, including The Story of the Amulet were written at a time when children's vocabularies were assumed to include two and three syllabel words.Readers of modern garbage may stumble over a few long and archaic terms but for a spirited romp full of imagination, courage and magic, these books are indeed magic.Childrens literature at its best.

no title
What a charming children's story!Aimed for kids about 10 and up, including me.Written in 1905 or 6, set in London, but escaping to ancient Tyre, Egypt, England, Babylon, through the magic of the Amulet.It actually tells quite a lot about 1905 London, most of it rather unpleasant.A Good Read.

80 out of 100
I liked "The Story of the Amulet", by Edith Nesbit.It is a well written and thought-provoking book.The children introduced in "The Five Children and It" and seen again in "The Pheonix and the Carpet" are back once more to finish the trio.As in "The Pheonix and the Carpet", this is a travelling book.However in this book the children travel in both time and space to search for the other half of an amulet that, when joined, will give the children their heart's desire.I removed a star for a few reasons.One, out of the five books by Nesbit that I have read, this is ranked 5th.That is not to say that this was a bad book.It's just that I thought the other ones were better.Two, I like the books where the characters are granted wishes best, as in "The Five Children and It".However, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes magical happenings, time travel, and those who liked other Edith Nesbit books.

An excellent book!
This book is one really fun and exciting adventure.E. Nesbit is one of the best children's authors ever.I suggest that anyone interested start with Five Children and It, which is even better.I would recommend this book to anyone!

Title.
I like edward eager, who says every1 should reads e nesbit so im gonna. ... Read more

Book Description
* ... Read more