- Hardcover: 176 pages
- Publisher: Doubleday; 1st Edition edition (1 April 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0385409796
- ISBN-13: 978-0385409797
- Product Dimensions: 22 x 16.2 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,340,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
With the feel of a Grimm's Fairy Story, but with a thoroughly modern twist, Philip Pullman's I Was a Rat is an intriguing, sparkling story by an author who never ceases to amaze. When Old Bob the Cobbler and his Washerwoman Wife, Joan, find a strange little boy on their doorstep, the search for his true parentage begins. But the child, who insists that he was once a rat, a condition diagnosed as "rodent delusion" by the doctor, finds coming to terms with being a normal little boy rather confusing. Taken to the Palace by the Philosopher Royal - who decides that he is indeed a "curious and interesting case", his fame spreads and he finds himself back on the streets, facing ridicule on the pages of the Daily Scourge where he is maligned as a monster, and finds his life threatened because of his reputation.
Set against the backdrop of a Royal Wedding--which in itself gives Pullman the opportunity to take a wry and effective sideways glance at the way the press can manipulate public feeling, and with the addition of a smart twist to the tale which allows the newly-wed Princess Aurelia to show her true colours--I Was a Rat is pure pleasure from beginning to end and gives Pullman yet another opportunity to prove that his startling ability to effortlessly transport readers to another dimension is a force to be reckoned with. An absolute must read for every child, but particularly for ages 7 to 11. --Susan Harrison
Book Description
An intriguing and exciting tale about a rat who turned into a little boy and couldn't change back again, in this fairy story from Master Story-teller Philip Pullman.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm not joking - if you've ever read any of Pullman's longer works (The Subtle Knife or The Ruby In The Smoke, anyone?) then you may well be securely thinking you've already experienced Pullman at his best. And yet these smaller books are of equal worth to his other works, and in some cases there are distinct advantages. 'I Was A Rat' goes beautifully alongside 'Clockwork' or 'The Firework Makers Daughter'; all of them wonderfully crafted tales with traditional and modern elements perfectly blended, with tremendous wit and playful use of vocabulary, all of it designed to draw the reader into the book's imaginary world, which it does so well. You know, I can't believe you're still reading this - for goodness sake buy it!
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is great, I had expected it to be a bit young for me from the cover. But as they say "don't judge a book by its cover" so i didn't. I picked a copy up from the library along with the book tape and sat down to read along with the tape.
The book is all about a little boy in a page boys uniform who knocks on Bob and Joans door. They take him in and all he can tell them about where he comes from is "I was a rat." They take him everywhere: to the police, to the hospital and then to school.
The funniest part is when he is in school and the teacher says "get out your pencils and we shall do some arithmetic" the little boy (who Bob and Joan name Roger!) has already learnt the word pencil, and as he was a rat before he likes to eat them. So he says to himself "I've just learnt a new word! Arithmetic means a snack"
I really recommend you read this amusing book and I hope it brings a smile to your face (whether young or old) like it did to mine.
Thankyou Phillip Pullman for writing this book
Keep writing more.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Pullman at his best - simple, but with layer upon layer of depth. I have to say, with some embarassment, that I did not spot the "nature of the beast" until almost the very last page. I cannot bring myself to say what it was, either, because I enjoyed the surprise so much that I want others to read it and have that experience. All this is far from saying that the rest of the book was anything but a joy to read, with unexpected action leaping from each page.
As always, Pullman turns the world as you know it on its head - to a world that's, in many ways, more real than our own.
As always, Pullman turns the world as you know it on its head - to a world that's, in many ways, more real than our own.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A book for all ages
This is the second time that I've read this masterpiece now. I was originally introduced to it by a TV serialisation of the book that I watched some years ago. Read more
Published on 27 May 2008 by J. C. W. Collins
Good, but as we know the best was yet to come....
A nice story, the BBC production did it fair too, Phillip Pullman is a very talented writer, and this is a good example of his earlier and shorter works. Read more
Published on 7 April 2006 by M. Morgan
A terrific romp for younger readers
A highly amusing tale for younger readers which allows Philip Pullman to indulge his love of the seamy side of Victorian life ('You want 'em nauseated,' as the side-show owner's... Read more
Published on 22 April 2003 by purplepadma
Cinderrelas bell-boy who couldn't change back into a rat.
I think that this book is excellent! It kept me interested because it was excitng & absolutely hilarious. i loved the way the story was set out & how it all came together.
Published on 23 Jan 2001
Deeply Affecting
A great twist on a conventional fairy story. I didn't work it out until almost the end and was tickled pink! Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2000 by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley
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