The Children of the New Forest [Audio Download]

I was given this book when I was 7 or 8 and for reasons best known to my juvenile personality decided not to read it, probably because I was an ungrateful little sod.

Flash forward twenty years and I discovered this book still in pristine condition on a bookshelf and thought it time I did justice to the kind family friend who had laid it in my possession all those years ago. The main protagonist is my namesake, Edward, and it was with a tear in my eye that I realised this is probably one of the reasons said family friend bought this book for me. Yet another reason to feel guilty at my lack of gratitude.

I do enjoy reading children's books from the 19th century as they are often written in a style and use of vocabulary more advanced than what you find in many modern thrillers and this book is no exception. The reader of this, whether they are young or old is not read down to and will be very quickly sucked in to the story of the children's lives.

The children themselves are likeable characters and it's admirable to watch them stand up for their principles and engage with the adults with a maturity above their years. Plus their honest attitude and complete lack of prejudice really takes you into their world. I kept thinking to myself how today's 15 year olds (or even me at that age) would cope with living off the land and the lack of a Playstation.

The only thing I will say is that some attitudes have inevitably dated which I couldn't help noticing, not least being the fact that the boys hunt and the girls cook, plus the distrust of the gipsy boy. The continual issue throughout of Edward having to pretend to be of less than noble birth reminds the reader of the clear class society existing in the 17th century (when the book is set). Perhaps this isn't too different to today's world and essentially the children in the book set a good example even if they do perhaps look down their noses occasionally.

Buy this for your children and get them reading again. I first read this book as a child and loved it. On re-reading very many years later, I still love it. What a refreshing antidote to today's political correctness and misplaced 'human rights'!
Behind a very simple story, personal integrity, common sense and great initiative prevail in this book. As an adult I can now see that it presents a very balanced view politically and warns of the dangers of extremism at both ends of the spectrum. I wish it was required reading and studying in our schools today. We can learn many valuable lessons from the past. Incredible value for money.

if you're looking for a book thats has a complex plot than this is not for you. however if you're looking for a book thats deeply evocative and you can really get lost in than look no further as this is exactly what this is. captain marryatt describes the new forest perfectly. i have been there before about ten years ago and it was exactly as i found it to be in the book. a world of its own, a world completely detatched from the rest of the planet, a place where reality and dreams merge in to one.

the story, set in 1647, starts in when arnwood house, the inheritance of edward beverley is burnt down by cavaliers during the civil war. he his sisters edith and alice and his brother humphrey are then left to make their own way in the forest, under the guidance of jacob armitage, they learn to fend for themselves, but as they grow older they are torn apart by the greater forces of politics and the civil war as edward is forced to make some difficult decisions regarding the inheritance and his responsibilities to his younger siblings. this book is a wonderful read suitable for any body who has a love of literature