Cassandra Mortmain lives with her bohemian and impoverished family in a crumbling castle in the middle of nowhere. Her journal records her life with her beautiful, bored sister, Rose, her fadingly glamorous stepmother, Topaz, her little brother Thomas and her eccentric novelist father who suffers from a financially crippling writer's block. However, all their lives are turned upside down when the American heirs to the castle arrive and Cassandra finds herself falling in love for the first time. (2003-04-02)
I Capture The Castle (Vintage Classics)
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Review
"This rite of passage story about a precocious teenager and her eccentric family is romantic, off-beat and totally magical" (Red)
"I know of few novels that inspire as much fierce lifelong affection in their readers" (Joanna Trollope)
"Everyone I've passed it on to has found it a hit - it works every time, for absolutely everybody" (Nigella Lawson)
"This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met" (J K Rowling)
"I know of few novels that inspire as much fierce lifelong affection in their readers" (Joanna Trollope)
"Everyone I've passed it on to has found it a hit - it works every time, for absolutely everybody" (Nigella Lawson)
"This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met" (J K Rowling)
Book Description
A designer Vintage Classics edition, published in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum. I Capture the Castle has been designed by Celia Birtwell (2003-04-02)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 50 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
One of my favourite books of all time, 'I Capture The Castle' is a poignant, warm novel about an impovrished 1930's family living in a crumbling old castle. The narrator, 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain, is one of the most engaging, charismatic heroines I have ever read, chronichling her eccentirc families ups and downs with honesty and wit. A tale of love, heart-break, family and growing up, 'I Capture The Castle' is supposed to have been written for a teenage audience but can, and should, be enjoyed by anyone of any age.
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By raw umba
Format:Paperback
I was given this book as a gift and I must admit that if I had seen it in the shops, I wouldn't have bought it myself. It just goes to show that sometimes other people know you well because I really loved it! I would recommend it because it's really unusual but not boring. It's incredibly well written and the characters are totally believable, if eccentic! It's the journal of Cassandra who lives with her impoverished family in an old castle She charts her relationship with her older (and annoying!) sister, her little brother, her mad stepmother who enjoys walking around naked to get in touch with nature and her novelist father who suffers from writer's block. Cassandra seems to be the only sane person in the book but she has her own shortcomings. Read the book to discover what happens when she falls in love ... You won't be disappointed.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Cassandra,Rose, Stephen et al stay in your mind for weeks. The book is lovely, which is rare today but is also very funny. Despite being written in the 1940's it is still fresh and exciting. Despite my reservations about the ending, it is, and probably always will be, my favourite novel.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I was surprised that I Capture the Castle wasn't really famous, as it is definitely a great book. The main character, Cassandra, is really likeable, you always know exactly what she's thinking and understand her. I love the way it's written in a diary form, and the story line is excellent, especially as it has an unexpected twist in the end. The story is really gripping, but I still don't understand why she fell for Simon, the man her sister Rose is getting married to. I couldn't put it down, and when I finished I just wanted more. I don't know what age this book is written for (I'm 11) but I think everyone who hasn't read this book is missing out on something special.
50 of 53 people found the following review helpful
By Rotgut
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
A great opening line, an imaginative structure and an artless narrator all make this novel a really enjoyable read.
The settings and characters are well drawn and memorable. Mortmain and Topaz in particular are lightly but clearly sketched to good effect.
The author, through the character of Cassandra, compares her story on several occassions to Jane Austen's and the Bronte's works. Although surely tongue in cheek, this comparison is not unwarranted. The unhurried descriptions of people and place are similar in many ways to Eighteenth Century novels with their slow, dense plots rather light on action and with solidly constucted background worlds.
Unlike these classic works, "I Capture The Castle" is supposedly a children's book, but the protagonists are about the same age as the Bennett sisters and the total of graphically described "adult" material is the same in this work as in an Austen novel...i.e. there is none.
So, this novel is a "Pride and Prejudice" for the Twentieth Century: of its time but timeless, serious but funny, involving and beautifully written. There can surely be no higher praise.
Now, if I can just get this tap to stop dripping on my keyboard.
35 of 37 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I hate when books are hyped out of proportion but, in this case, believe the hype. I rarely react to a book so strongly that it leaves me with a pleasant glow days after I have read it. Magically, this book manages to be the warmest, most positive, least cloying story I have ever read (even the end is satisfying without being a cop-out). It is beautifully written with an amazing sense of place, atmosphere and character. Who couldn't fall in love with Cassandra with her quick wit, intelligence and unconventional outlook? I have rarely read such an unpatronising, accurate and positive account of a girl on the brink of adulthood. Read ICTC for the cleverly constructed plot. Read it for the descriptive passages and the evocation of time and place. Read it for the distinctive and endearingly eccentric characters, especially the narrator, Cassandra. Just read it. And don't think you have to be a woman to love this book. I am a guy in his late twenties who intends to pass on my copy of the book to most of my friends - male and female - under the strict condition that it is returned in mint condition!
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
It was one of the only books available to me in a kind of 'teenage' category when I was growing up in the early 60's. How I still remember the delight of discovering this wonderful book, and it's opening sentence of Cassandra sitting with her feet in the kitchen sink. Recently on a long drive through France I treated myself to the audio version of this book, exquisitely read by Janet Maw, and my two young daughters were totally transfixed. How can begin to explain the appeal of this book, to both the quite young (both my girls are under 11) and to men (my husband enjoyed it too). The secret must lie in the endearing character of Cassandra, the narrator, and the amusing and bohemian characters with which her world is peopled, her quixotic family and the love interest from the neighbouring stately home!
I recommend it to both young and old, and I am spurred to write this review, on going to Amazon to buy get a copy for the house and for my young teenage babysitter who has the joy of reading it for the first time to come!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Coming of Age Tale, woven with Masterful Skill
I Capture the Castle, introduces the reader to Cassandra Mortmain, the book's 17-year old narrator. Cassandra is an aspiring writer, living with her eccentric and bohemian family... Read more
Published 1 month ago by L. Clarke
5.0 out of 5 stars
I loved this story
This book is the tale of 17 year old Cassandra Mortmain's growing up in the 1930s. It has a wonderfully vintage feel about it as the impoverished family of once-successful author... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ignite
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most enjoyable read
I saw the film when it was first released and enjoyed it very much, but having recently read the book can honestly say it was as good as the film if not better. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jean Dey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Charming Book
Beautifully written - you can't help but love all the slightly eccentric characters. Perfect for book clubs - I would definitely recommend.
Published 2 months ago by Zoe 1985
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful quirky classic
Beautifully written - the writing is perfect without a grammatical error which makes for such relaxed reading! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ruth Young
5.0 out of 5 stars
You'll never forget this book.
Highly misleading to label this a book for the young reader. It may be, but it warrants re-reading throughout your life. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Pook
5.0 out of 5 stars
About as perfect as a book can be
Like many people who read this book, I wish I'd known of it when I was a few years younger. The characters are developed in great detail, and make you wish you were in the story... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. P. Langridge
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous read!!!!!!
My one quibble is - why is it billed as a children's book? It's suitable for readers 13+ years, but underneath the lively story are some very rich layers that only an adult reader... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Arachne202
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful book
An oversight that I didn't read it in my youth. I think it would have benefitted me greatly. A very pleasurable read.
Published 3 months ago by Anon
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not recommended
| read this book on a friend's recommendation - however i would not recommend it. Very old-fashioned and rather ridiculous.
Published 4 months ago by MRS CA HUTAHAEN
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