The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
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We recently purchased a beautifully bound copy of “The Railway Children” by E. Nesbit which created within me the desire to get to know the story a little bit better. I have seen the film on television but I don't think I ever read the book as a child.... so now is my chance - although I will be reading a paperback copy, not a highly collectable one!
Originally serialised in The London Magazine during 1905 the book was first published in 1906.
The story is set in the English countryside at the turn of the 20th Century (the golden age of steam railways) and tells the story of the Waterbury children. It opens with a description of happy family life. However, it is not long into the story when the children's father is taken from the family home by two sinister men. Although the children do not know where he has been taken, Mother does, but she keeps it a secret from them.
After this incident Mother announces that they are to move to the countryside, to a house without servants which means that Mother has to work all the time. In order to amuse themselves the children go down to the railway line that runs near their cottage where they make a habit of waving to the Old Gentleman who rides on the 9:15 train each day. Little do the children know but the Old Gentleman that they befriend is able to help their father and reunite the family. As the story develops you learn that the children's father has been accused of selling secrets to the Russians - but with the help of the Old Gentleman these accusations are proved false and the whole family is happily reunited!
The children have many adventures: saving one of the trains from disaster, helping a Russian exile find his lost family, and helping the Old Gentleman's grandson who breaks his leg. I'd better not say any more or I might completely ruin the story for you!
I was surprised to learn that the book has actually been adapted for screen six times - four television series and two films. The four television series were all produced by the BBC between 1951 and 1968. The 1968 adaptation was placed 96th in the British Film Institute's 100 Greatest British Television Programmes poll of 2000. It starred Jenny Agutter as Roberta, the eldest child, and Dinah Sheridan as Mother. The best known adaptation is possibly the 1970 film directed by Lionel Jefferies, who bought the film rights, and starred, in addition to Jenny Agutter and Dinah Sheridan, Iain Cuthbertson as Father and Bernard Cribbins as station porter Albert Perks. In October 1999, ITV made a new adaptation, as a made-for-television film. This time Jenny Agutter played the role of Mother. Surely it's time for a new adaptation?
Edith Nesbit published approximately 40 children's books of which The Railway Children is arguably the best known. Born in 1858, she had a colourful life and was an active socialist, married twice and had five children of which two were adopted. She died in 1924 and is buried in the village of St Mary In The Marsh near New Romney in Kent.
Despite being over 100 years old, this charming tale of life in the English countryside during the golden age of steam has stood the test of time and is certainly well worth a read.
Contributed by Maria
(Published on 16th Dec 2014 )