Carrie's War: Introduced by Michael Morpurgo - 'A touching, utterly convincing book' Jacqueline Wilson (Virago Modern Classics) - Softcover

Bawden, Nina

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0349009163 ISBN 13: 9780349009162

Publisher: Virago, 2017

Synopsis

One of the most loved and enduring wartime novels, Carrie's War is a modern classic.

WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY MICHAEL MORPURGO AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALAN MARKS

'A touching, utterly convincing book' Jacqueline Wilson

'Poignant and realistic . . . Carrie's War captures the true reality of war for a child, and it doesn't sentimentalise war' Shirley Hughes, Guardian

'I did a dreadful thing, the worst thing of my life, when I was twelve and a half years old, and nothing can change it'

It is wartime and Carrie and her little brother Nick have been evacuated from their London home to the Welsh hills. In an unfamiliar place, among strangers, the children feel alone and find little comfort with the family they are billeted with: Mr Evans, a bullying shopkeeper and Auntie Lou, his kind but timid sister.

When Carrie and Nick visit Albert, another evacuee, they are welcomed into Hepzibah Green's warm kitchen. Hepzibah is rumoured to be a witch, but her cooking is delicious, her stories are enthralling and the children cannot keep away. With Albert, Hepzibah and Mister Johnny, they begin to settle into their new surroundings. But before long, their loyalties are tested: will they be persuaded to betray their new friends?

This collection of the best children's literature, curated by Virago, will be coveted by children and adults alike. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie's War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Little Princess,The Secret Garden) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children's Classics.

About this title

Review:

A poignant and realistic picture of what the second world war was like for a child . . . Carrie's War captures the true reality of war for a child, and it doesn't sentimentalise war (Shirley Hughes Guardian)

A very touching, utterly convincing book about three wartime evacuees billeted to Wales. It's very much a children's story, with a mystery to be solved, but Nina Bawden is very subtle with her characterisation - even hateful Mr Evans with his cruel bullying is seen as sadly pathetic too. Carrie and her little brother Nick are a delight, but my favourite character is their friend Albert Sandwich. He might sport steel spectacles and have a few spots on his chin, but he's one of the most charming boys in all children's fiction (Jacqueline Wilson)

Delicately done, full of accurate and unsentimental understanding (Sunday Telegraph)

Perhaps the best of Nina Bawden's excellent novels (Sunday Times)

What a consummate storymaker Nina Bawden is (Michael Morpurgo)

Book Description:

One of the most loved and enduring wartime novels, Carrie's War is a modern classic. Published for the first time as a Virago Modern Classic, with a new foreword by Michael Morpurgo.

About this edition

• Publisher: Virago
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0349009163
• ISBN 13: 9780349009162
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224
• Illustrator: Marks Alan