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Edith Nesbit: The House of Arden
Apr. 10th, 2006 08:24 amLast fall, another re-reading of one of my favourite childhood books. Triggered by a concern about my lack of knowledge about British history, I re-read this and "Harding's Luck" in the german version I got as a child. Trying to learn more about the author, I stumbled over the full text at http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/nesbit/arden/arden.html and re-read the book again, now the original text. (I made a PDF version that is a little better suited for online reading and printing. If anyone is interested in it, mail me.)
Published 1923 and set in the beginning of the 20th century, House of Arden is about two children who explore their once so great, but now decayed and nearly abandoned familiy castle, and when they discover a source of magic that lets them travel in time and space, they are able to get the family back together and restore the castle as their family residence.
This book is not only a fantasy adventure and history lesson, but also a book about learning to put log-term goals and the welfare of others before one's own immediate interests. This intent is spelled out quite explicitly, but still not so obtrusive as to make the book boring. On the contrary the book is quite entertaining.
House of Arden is linked to the older "Harding's Luck"; the children meet Dick Harding first in a previous life in the past, and later he helps them find the family treasure. I'll get to "Harding's Luck" later.
As recently with Mary Poppins, I noticed that the german version is dumbed down by omitting several aspects of the childrens present-day life circumstances. Is that really necessary with a book that is already a children's book?
Published 1923 and set in the beginning of the 20th century, House of Arden is about two children who explore their once so great, but now decayed and nearly abandoned familiy castle, and when they discover a source of magic that lets them travel in time and space, they are able to get the family back together and restore the castle as their family residence.
This book is not only a fantasy adventure and history lesson, but also a book about learning to put log-term goals and the welfare of others before one's own immediate interests. This intent is spelled out quite explicitly, but still not so obtrusive as to make the book boring. On the contrary the book is quite entertaining.
House of Arden is linked to the older "Harding's Luck"; the children meet Dick Harding first in a previous life in the past, and later he helps them find the family treasure. I'll get to "Harding's Luck" later.
As recently with Mary Poppins, I noticed that the german version is dumbed down by omitting several aspects of the childrens present-day life circumstances. Is that really necessary with a book that is already a children's book?
