Timeless classic

I loved this book as a child and, decades later, devoured this audiobook in a single afternoon. Long before concepts of 'kidult' there were beautifully written books like this which can be experienced on different levels depending on your age and perception - it's up there with Mary Norton's 'Borrowers' series, Ruth Park's award winning 'Playing Beatie Bow' and even 'To kill a Mockingbird'. The prose is excellent and many scenes are both poignant and funny all at once. The book is very much of its time, reflecting historic vocabulary and attitudes, providing an interesting social commentary and a window onto the past. Pure joy from start to finish.

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2 people found this helpful

Wonderful story, fabulous adventures..

A wonderful story, evoking times gone by when children were free to have adventures outside and make up their own games and get into scrapes. It is of its time.. so of course girls and boys were different although these girls are brilliant and Dora, a little mother. I cannot understand the former review at all. There is a brief mention of colonialism as was happening in history at this time..none of the children are racist in any way, welcoming a 'self professing, poor indian gentleman and inviting him for a nursery tea, thinking he is a red indian, but they are children and he has a 'jolly time, not being poor at all!"
One of Edith Nesbit's best.
Cleverly told from a 'child's point of view' with a motherless group of children trying to restore their fallen fortunes. a lovely group of caring, imaginative children with the 'child author' always trying to remember to behave like a gentlman but getting into wild scrapes due to a father working so hard and no mother to guide them. made me smile, laugh, feel sad and joyful. This story will make you smile.

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4 people found this helpful

Explicit content: parents be aware!

It’s important to know that this book is very much of its time and reflects disturbing imperial attitudes regarding class, race, women & girls. It includes overtly racist and explicitly anti-semitic content. There are some very lovely elements in the book (a great story in many ways, and beautifully written) but it’s badly in need of a re-write. I really don’t think this unexpurgated version should be available for children.

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