See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

48 used & new from £0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Orchard on Fire
 
See larger image
 

The Orchard on Fire (Hardcover)

by Shena Mackay (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


4 new from £2.99 43 used from £0.01 1 collectible from £4.99
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 13 used & new from £1.33
Paperback (New edition) £7.99 £5.99 413 used & new from £0.01
Hardcover (Large Print) 6 used & new from £8.96
Audio Cassette (Audiobook) £31.95 £31.95 8 used & new from £19.19

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Hey Yeah Right Get a Life

Hey Yeah Right Get a Life

by Helen Simpson
4.1 out of 5 stars (7)  £5.49
Behind the Scenes at the Museum

Behind the Scenes at the Museum

by Kate Atkinson
4.3 out of 5 stars (69)  £4.87
Regeneration

Regeneration

by Pat Barker
4.1 out of 5 stars (49)  £5.89
Dunedin

Dunedin

by Shena Mackay
4.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £5.49
The Choir

The Choir

by Joanna Trollope
4.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £5.99
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd; Reprint edition (10 Jun 1996)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0434000671
  • ISBN-13: 978-0434000678
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 602,143 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
This intimate, intensely seen novel was short-listed for the 1996 Booker Prize. Shena Mackay's six previous novels have won her critical admiration and a popular audience in England, but her work has not received due recognition in the United States yet. The Orchard on Fire is a concise, domestic novel set in the village of Stonebridge, where the parents of April Harlency have come in 1953 to run the local teashop. April's private reveries and her entanglement with the grim family life of her best friend, Ruby Richards, fill up a vivid and dramatic year in the wonderfully distinctive life of Stonebridge. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
'A harvest festival of sensuous detail, intimate, rich... compulsively readable' -- "Daily Telegraph"
'So touched with magic, so achingly sad and funny that my breath was taken away... Wonderful' -- "The Times"
'Mackay moved this reader to ears, not from grief, but from joy. Now there's a skill' -- Fay Weldon," Mail on Sunday"

"From the Trade Paperback edition."

See all Product Description


Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Orchard on Fire
83% buy the item featured on this page:
The Orchard on Fire 4.5 out of 5 stars (13)
The Atmospheric Railway: New and Selected Stories
8% buy
The Atmospheric Railway: New and Selected Stories 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£12.59
Dunedin
4% buy
Dunedin 4.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£5.49
Heligoland
3% buy
Heligoland 3.5 out of 5 stars (2)
£5.49

 

Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully-crafted story of girls 50s childhood, 4 May 2005
This review is from: The Orchard on Fire (Paperback)
'The Orchard on Fire' chronicles events in 1953 in the life of eight-year old April Harlency, whose parents have recently moved to the village of Stonehenge in Kent to run a tearoom. She becomes best friends with fiery, tomboyish Ruby, whose parents are proprietors of the local pub, and together they share experiences with an array of village characters including creepy Mr Greenridge; strict schoolmistress Miss Fay; bohemian artists Dittany Codrington and Bobs Rix, and village communists, the Silver family.

Mackay's writing is simply beautiful: there were many occasions when I re-read whole paragraphs to savour the language. 'The Orchard on Fire' brilliantly evokes village life in the '50s through convincing period details, dialogue and - most of all - development of a diverse range of characters whose mindsets mirror the values and behaviours of the times. Without excessive nostalgia, Mackay transports the reader back to arguably gentler, more innocent times - whilst warning of social evils that may lurk beneath the veneer of respectability. In a market-place awash with novels depicting childhood experiences, 'The Orchard On Fire' stands out for its realism and honesty and, above all, elegantly-crafted prose.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Glorious, Heady Plunge Into Childhood, 19 Dec 2002
By A Customer - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Orchard on Fire (Paperback)
In my opinion, this is Shena MacKay's best novel. In Coronation Year, Betty and Percy Harlency, with their small daughter, April, move from London to a small village in Kent called Stonebridge, to take over The Copper Kettle Tearoom. The Copper Kettle is a charming, but not financially prosperous, establishment.

When April meets the tomboyish, fiery, ginger-haired Ruby, their friendship is instantly sealed. The girls are staunch allies who conspire together in every way possible. Their secret signal is the "lone cry of the peewit;" their hideaway is a railway carriage where they are continually up to mischief. When the two girls finally manage to pry open the door of the carriage they stand and gaze "in the smell of trapped time."

It is this smell of trapped time, this nostalgia for the emotions of the past, that The Orchard on Fire conjures so expertly. MacKay is reminiscent of Proust in this extraordinarily evocative novel and we feel intimately connected to April and to her emotional life. MacKay, usually a brilliant writer, excels in The Orchard on Fire and we can hear the buzz of the insects and the bluebottles, smell the overgrown weeds and the lush summer grass and picture the family's new home at The Copper Kettle.

The small English village where April lives is a bit unconventional as are April's parents; the duo are unlikely political radicals and MacKay manages to introduce a Bohemian element into the story in the gentle, pretentious artist characters of Bobs Rix and Dittany Codrington, who is "like the Willow Fairy in Fairies of the Trees by Cicely Mary Barker."

One of the best sections of this wonderfully-written book comes when The Copper Kettle is chosen to host a weekend party for Bobs and Dittany and their artist friends. For a time, Stonebridge is awash in fairy lights and the pink glow of nostalgia.

Although some may dismiss The Orchard on Fire as overly-sentimental, it is nothing but. Child abuse plays a part is this masterfully-written story as does sexual perversion, bringing to mind scenes of Pip in Great Expectations. We become deeply immersed in April's world, and in her fears and expectations, most particularly her horror at losing a cherished Christmas present.

Although this novel tells us more of April then just her childhood, it is childhood that is most strongly evoked in all of its trouble and all of its glory. The adult April is but a shadow of the child April and we, who grew up with her, know why.

The Orchard on Fire is Shena MacKay at her finest and one of the most wonderful and atmospheric books I have ever read. It is a glorious, heady plunge into the world of childhood that will never be forgotten.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully told story about friendship, 8 May 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The Orchard on Fire (Paperback)
I simply love this book! Shena McKay has the most magnificent eye for detail, and managed to evoke memories from my own childhood through her characters. Although the story was told through the eyes of April, much of it focussed on her love for her best friend, the sparky and ebullient, Ruby. Their friendship was exemplary and the girls remained strong and resilient despite suffering abuse at the hands of adults in their lives. I enjoyed the accurate details used to illustrate the childrens imaginative play, e.g. using a red smartie for lipstick etc.. and was heartened by the joy shown by the children when presented with simple gifts such as a shiny pencil or a plastic bracelet! Even though the book tackles serious issues of child abuse, the story is told with much humour and Ruby and April's frank observations, and childlike interpretations of events were hilarious. I would guess the story was based on a real friendship, as the characters were well developed and believable. This book made me laugh in many parts and I felt sad at the very end....that was partly because it ended ! Do read it.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars a photo album of the 50s
Nostalgia has the effect of painting the past in vivid colours that make the present seem pallid in comparison. Read more
Published on 8 April 2005 by Is

4.0 out of 5 stars Tragic at points, tender at other moments
Another book about growing up in the fifties, this time in small-town Britain. A tragic story about two girls growing up, one which gets beaten at home by her parents, whereas the... Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2003 by gerbie7

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written
This is a story of childhood friendship and village life in 50's England, seen through a young girl's eyes. Read more
Published on 14 Jul 2002 by Caren Firth

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
I first read 'The Orchard on Fire' several years ago, and to this day, it still remains one of my favourites. Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2001 by whitewitch981@hotmail.com

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, touching, sad and funny.
This is a wonderful, unput-downable book, the first I've read by Shena MacKay but it definitely won't be the last! Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Friendship is all that matters.
The Orchard on Fire was a very interesting read It encompases the themes of true friendship and of growing up. Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars This book was a very interesting read.
The Orchard on Fire was a very enlightening read. It contains the themes of friendship and of coming of age. It also offers a peek into 1950s England. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, unput-downable
This is a brilliant, unput-downable book. If you liked 'Behind The Scenes At The Museum' or 'The Go-Between' by L P Hartley, you should read this. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars stunning
I won't say too much about this wonderful book as you must find out for yourselves. However, I shall say that this book confirms the importance, the beauty and the joy of... Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Successful evocation of a fifties childhood.
The book's basic structure is a familiar one; the main story being framed by the narrator, April, speaking from the perspective of the present day. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2000 by anne.connell@hpdsoftware.com

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Fun for Everyone

Christmas Gifts
Achieve over 15,000 RPM with our great range of Powerballs.

Shop the Powerball store

 

More From Shena MacKay

The Atmospheric Railway...

The Atmospheric Railway: New and...

`She can say more in a few pages than many of her contemporaries can... Read more
£17.99 £12.59

 

Train Hard...Play Hard

Nike, Gola, Converse, and more
Gear up with up to 60% off athletic and outdoor shoes.

Shop now

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates