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the_sentimentality_of_books's review against another edition
3.0
The Children of the New Forest was written by Captain Marryat and published in 1847 - and the book definitely shows it.
The story purportedly follows the childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood of the four Beverley siblings: two brothers and two sisters. While the livelihoods, activities, and interests of the two boys are followed and do make a very interesting historical novel, the two girls are left out.
When Humphrey, the younger brothers, tells his sister Edith that they shall have bacon from their farm, he says that it will be fun for her because she will be able to cook it for him and his brother. Later, Edward, the elder brother, is deciding where his two sisters will live and claims that it is decided without consulting either one of them.
In sum, the girls are in the book to:
1. Give the boys some to protect
2. Provide housekeeping.
Therefore, I can say it is an enjoyable novel for an adult with same rather dramatic points of intrigue, physical danger, and love. In its history-telling, it is quite biased against the Roundheads, and very pro-Cavalier, but the ways of life, farming, and speaking would make an interesting study.
However, as a children's book, I say no. Being unwittingly sexist, racist and biased it can be studied by adults, but should not be read by either young boys or girls without giving them some very old-fashioned impressions.
The story purportedly follows the childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood of the four Beverley siblings: two brothers and two sisters. While the livelihoods, activities, and interests of the two boys are followed and do make a very interesting historical novel, the two girls are left out.
When Humphrey, the younger brothers, tells his sister Edith that they shall have bacon from their farm, he says that it will be fun for her because she will be able to cook it for him and his brother. Later, Edward, the elder brother, is deciding where his two sisters will live and claims that it is decided without consulting either one of them.
In sum, the girls are in the book to:
1. Give the boys some to protect
2. Provide housekeeping.
Therefore, I can say it is an enjoyable novel for an adult with same rather dramatic points of intrigue, physical danger, and love. In its history-telling, it is quite biased against the Roundheads, and very pro-Cavalier, but the ways of life, farming, and speaking would make an interesting study.
However, as a children's book, I say no. Being unwittingly sexist, racist and biased it can be studied by adults, but should not be read by either young boys or girls without giving them some very old-fashioned impressions.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
4.0
During the English Civil War, the four Beverley children are orphaned when their wealthy father is killed fighting for the restoration of King Charles. Their grand home is burnt down and they are supposed dead, so they find shelter with a kindly old forester. They each learn to hunt, harvest, and care for their little cottage, living in seclusion deep in the forest. But the oldest boy, Edward, is restless and he dreams of going to war as his father did.
The siblings encounter many dangers and perplexities, highwaymen and robbers, spies from the Parliamentary government, and a new Intendant governor over the forest who is determined to capture anyone poaching the deer in the forest. But the siblings are resourceful and brave, so they flourish in their humble cottage, acquiring farm animals and planting small fields, dreaming of the time when their inheritance will be restored to them, if ever the true King returns to England.
I loved this story of the Beverley siblings! The plot is interesting and full of action and intrigue. I really liked even the simple aspects of the story about the children learning to do household tasks like cooking, the boys learning how to hunt, and the girls keeping a dairy.
I like the formal writing style and the vivid language of this book. I wish that the girls in the story had more time in the narrative. They are sort of background characters, and don't take part in most of the action, but I liked them! I just wish there was more in-depth writing about them.
I was really touched by the siblings deep emotional attachment to each other and to the old man who takes them in. Time and again, they are shown to have noble feelings and generosity to their friends. I loved how the siblings all work and sacrifice a great deal to care for and protect each other. Their first thought in any difficult situation is, "How can I take care of my siblings?"
Usually, I get bored with historical fiction, but I loved the historical aspects of this story. The characters made the history more intimate and immediate to the reader.
The siblings encounter many dangers and perplexities, highwaymen and robbers, spies from the Parliamentary government, and a new Intendant governor over the forest who is determined to capture anyone poaching the deer in the forest. But the siblings are resourceful and brave, so they flourish in their humble cottage, acquiring farm animals and planting small fields, dreaming of the time when their inheritance will be restored to them, if ever the true King returns to England.
I loved this story of the Beverley siblings! The plot is interesting and full of action and intrigue. I really liked even the simple aspects of the story about the children learning to do household tasks like cooking, the boys learning how to hunt, and the girls keeping a dairy.
I like the formal writing style and the vivid language of this book. I wish that the girls in the story had more time in the narrative. They are sort of background characters, and don't take part in most of the action, but I liked them! I just wish there was more in-depth writing about them.
I was really touched by the siblings deep emotional attachment to each other and to the old man who takes them in. Time and again, they are shown to have noble feelings and generosity to their friends. I loved how the siblings all work and sacrifice a great deal to care for and protect each other. Their first thought in any difficult situation is, "How can I take care of my siblings?"
Usually, I get bored with historical fiction, but I loved the historical aspects of this story. The characters made the history more intimate and immediate to the reader.
octavia_cade's review against another edition
2.0
Really quite readable for such an old book, although it truthfully should be called "The Boys of the New Forest" as Marryat has less than no interest in the two sisters of the title children, preferring to follow the exploits of their brothers.
It's certainly a product of its time, from a political and social perspective, and the bias of the author shines plainly through - I side-eyed the text quite a few times. Still, despite this and the absolutely romanticised version of peasant life that the kids lead, it scoots along fairly quickly and at least has a semblance of a plot, which considering some of my more recent reads was something a relief.
It's certainly a product of its time, from a political and social perspective, and the bias of the author shines plainly through - I side-eyed the text quite a few times. Still, despite this and the absolutely romanticised version of peasant life that the kids lead, it scoots along fairly quickly and at least has a semblance of a plot, which considering some of my more recent reads was something a relief.
eaird's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexism, and War
wingedpotato's review against another edition
2.0
Sorry, but what a slog for a 5th grade required reading! UPDATE My daughter rated this 10/10 on her book report and thought it was action packed, so what do I know?
luthien3720's review against another edition
4.0
The seeds of so many well-known children's stories must have been sown by this mid-nineteenth century book. The four Beverley siblings (the titular Children), Edward, Humphrey, Alice, and Edith, are surely the ancestors of the Pevensie siblings of Narnia and the Walker siblings of Swallows and Amazons, and undoubtedly many others. The two girls, two boys combination works well for these sort of stories. Edward takes centre stage throughout most of the book, with Humphrey as the next-biggest role. The girls are younger--Edith was still in single-digit age at the beginning--and get a little less characterization; I suspect Marryat was writing for an audience of boys primarily. But this book can be enjoyed by everyone. I enjoyed the descriptions of life in the New Forest. It was easy to picture the Armitage cottage and the deep green of the forest. I love stories that show how characters build and learn, and watching them work to carve a real farm out of the landscape was fascinating. And all while hiding from Oliver Cromwell's forces, who would like nothing better than to kill all four of them! The story is a great picture of the time of the English Civil War, and Marryat strikes a balance between the two sides. Patience, the children's Puritan friend, and her gamekeeper father are great examples of good people supporting the Parlimentarian side, explaining why they do, while the Beverley children show the Royalist side. The story piqued my interest in learning more about the English Civil War.
treereader's review against another edition
3.0
I'd forgotten just how sexist, classist, and racist this is. Coming into the re-read, I remembered vaguely that it was sexist, and I guess this might have been all I noticed when I first read it - I was 10 or 11? Not sure.
Anyway the entrenched classism especially was interesting to read - so much about noble blood, and nonsense about being able to tell one's class based one their appearance, and forester's garb not disguising aristocratic birth. But the stuff about what Patience and Edward were able to say/acknowledge to each other (even just the use of titles and surnames) was really interesting in terms of social dynamics and how the English speaking world used to be structured soooo differently and strictly.
I'm not sure if I'd let many kids read it actually unless they were pretty savvy, the sexism is thoroughly built in through the whole book, impossible to not absorb in some way. Read any sentence where the boys are talking to their sisters (or about their sisters) and you'll see.
Anyway the entrenched classism especially was interesting to read - so much about noble blood, and nonsense about being able to tell one's class based one their appearance, and forester's garb not disguising aristocratic birth. But the stuff about what Patience and Edward were able to say/acknowledge to each other (even just the use of titles and surnames) was really interesting in terms of social dynamics and how the English speaking world used to be structured soooo differently and strictly.
I'm not sure if I'd let many kids read it actually unless they were pretty savvy, the sexism is thoroughly built in through the whole book, impossible to not absorb in some way. Read any sentence where the boys are talking to their sisters (or about their sisters) and you'll see.
luthien3720's review
4.0
The seeds of so many well-known children's stories must have been sown by this mid-nineteenth century book. The four Beverley siblings (the titular Children), Edward, Humphrey, Alice, and Edith, are surely the ancestors of the Pevensie siblings of Narnia and the Walker siblings of Swallows and Amazons, and undoubtedly many others. The two girls, two boys combination works well for these sort of stories. Edward takes centre stage throughout most of the book, with Humphrey as the next-biggest role. The girls are younger--Edith was still in single-digit age at the beginning--and get a little less characterization; I suspect Marryat was writing for an audience of boys primarily. But this book can be enjoyed by everyone. I enjoyed the descriptions of life in the New Forest. It was easy to picture the Armitage cottage and the deep green of the forest. I love stories that show how characters build and learn, and watching them work to carve a real farm out of the landscape was fascinating. And all while hiding from Oliver Cromwell's forces, who would like nothing better than to kill all four of them! The story is a great picture of the time of the English Civil War, and Marryat strikes a balance between the two sides. Patience, the children's Puritan friend, and her gamekeeper father are great examples of good people supporting the Parlimentarian side, explaining why they do, while the Beverley children show the Royalist side. The story piqued my interest in learning more about the English Civil War.