Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
One of the best historical novels ever, 12 Jun 2002
Like Geoffrey Trease, Cynthia Harnett had a huge ingfluence on children who now have children of their own. This thrilling evocation of a boys' adventures in pre-Tudor England, when the wool trade (and the king) became embroiled in the money-lending of the Lombards, just at the time when Columbus discovered America, is vivid with detail. Everything from Nicholas's clothes to the treats of a country fair are described with memorable detail. My 9 year old adored it just as much as I did - and the tape is recommended for slightly younger ones.
|
|
|
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
A wonderful children's book about life in the middle ages, 22 Jan 2002
By A Customer
I was astonished to come upon Cynthia Harnett's books and find they were unreviewed - and only two in print. I hope this doesn't mean that children today do not read them. I loved all her books when I was a child. As well as being beautifully written exciting stories, they make you feel that you are living in the middle ages and give a wealth of information about the times. They certainly encouraged my life long fascination with history and if you are, or know, a child who wants to know more about how people lived 500 years ago, I recommend these books unreservedly.
|
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
A wonderful story combined with a superb history lesson, 22 Sep 2006
If you've ever wondered what life was like in England in 1493, look no further. The Wool-Pack is a delightful tale well-told and beautifully illustrated both by the deft use of language and the author's own drawings. It is also a stunning portrait of 15th Century England, when the Wool Trade was the Country's most important industry.
These days, it is rare to find a book with a beginning, a middle and an end. The Wool-Pack has all three. It also has characters that are fascinating and charming in equal measure. They are brought to life through a skillfully-woven plot and a vocabulary of old English that is as extraordinary as it is engaging. Together these things make it a masterpiece of traditional story-telling.
While this book is entertaining as a simple, yet engaging tale, what makes it a true classic is that historically it is full of fascinating period detail. (I was born in Newbury and went to School near Burford so can vouch for the accuracy and authenticity of every nugget.)
This book is a forgotten treasure, I think this is easy to see from the number of 5-star reviews it has garnered. I hope some film-maker will discover it and bring it to life for future generations to enjoy. With all due respect to Harry Potter, this is what a children's book should really be like!
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
(2)
£4.99
(2)
£5.24
(19)
£2.99
