A Kestrel for a Knave: Barry Hines (Penguin Essentials, 62) - Softcover

Hines, Barry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0241978963 ISBN 13: 9780241978962

Publisher: Penguin, 2016

Synopsis

The classic book that inspired Kes, the famous film, now published as a Penguin Essential for the first time.

Barry Hines's A Kestrel for a Knave was published in 1968, and was made into one of the key British films of the sixties. Billy Casper is beaten by his drunken brother, ignored by his mother and failing at school. He seems destined for a hard, miserable life down the pits, but for a brief time, he finds one pleasure in life: a wild kestrel that he has raised and tamed himself.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

The 1960s was the decade of social revolution, anti-war protests, liberal reforms, civil rights and psychedelia. Skirts got shorter and hair got longer, London swung, the Berlin Wall went up, a man walked on the moon, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones reigned and England even won the world cup.

Barry Hines's A Kestrel for a Knave was published in 1968. One of those rare crossover books lovd by adults and children alike, it later became a widely admired film. Billy Casper is beaten by his drunken brother, ignored by his mother and failing at school. He seems destined for a hard, miserable life down the pits, but for a brief time, he finds one pleasure in life: a wild kestrel that he has raised and tamed himself.

With a new introduction by Ian Macmillan

About the Author:

Barry Hines was born near Barnsley, Yorkshire, in 1939 and was a promising footballer before taking a teaching qualification at Loughborough. He taught PE in London and in Yorkshire before writing full time. He has written nine novels, and co-wrote the screenplay of Kes with Ken Loach. He lives in Yorkshire.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0241978963
• ISBN 13: 9780241978962
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208