Linnets and Valerians - Softcover

Goudge, Elizabeth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1567925219 ISBN 13: 9781567925210

Publisher: David R. Godine, Publisher, 2015

Synopsis

When Nan, Robert, Timothy, and Betsy s father went off to explore in Egypt, he left the children with their grandmother who lived in the English countryside. Unfortunately she did not much like children, much less their dog, Absalom. So the children ran away to stay with their Uncle Ambrose, an eccentric, strict, and loveable retired school teacher who was determined to give them an Education, but in addition to Greek, Latin, and Literature, the Linnet children learned much more about nature and magic, the power of the past and Pan, and, of course, the importance of the bees. They used their knowledge to find the lost Valerians, undo some very wicked, ancient spells, and reunite a divided family. The word enchanting is overused, but in this case it applies.

As this world becomes increasingly ugly, callous and materialistic it needs to be reminded that the old fairy stories are rooted in truth, that imagination is of value, that happy endings do, in fact, occur, and that the blue spring mist that make an ugly street look beautiful is just as real a thing as the street itself.

Elizabeth Goudge writes with the gentleness and good humor that have long endeared her to adult readers . . . blending fantasy and fact with the sure touch of the born storyteller. The New York Times Book Review

A lively, romantic plot, varied and endearingly eccentric characters and picturesque settings. Booklist

An American Library Association Notable Book.

About this title

About the Author:

Elizabeth Goudge was born in Somerset, England, in 1900. She is the author of many best-selling books for children and adults, including The Little White Horse, which won the Carnegie Medal for Children s Books, and I Saw Three Ships (David R. Godine, 2008). Goudge, who died in 1984, was among J.K. Rowling s favorite authors as a child, and The Little White Horse was a direct influence on the Harry Potter series.

Review:

A lively, romantic plot, varied and endearingly eccentric characters and picturesque settings. --Booklist

Elizabeth Goudge writes with the gentleness and good humor that have long endeared her to adult readers . . . blending fantasy and fact with the sure touch of the born storyteller. --The New York Times Book Review

An extraordinary and deeply absorbing read from beginning to end, Linnets and Valerians is a terrifically entertaining novel from beginning to end and showcases author Elizabeth Goudge's impressive storytelling abilities. Very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that Linnets and Valerians is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.49). --Julie Summers, Midwest Book Review

About this edition

• Publisher: David R. Godine, Publisher
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1567925219
• ISBN 13: 9781567925210
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256