Product Description
Elizabeth Goudge (1900-1984) was a prolific British writer of romances, children's fantasies, and inspirational works. She won the Carnegie Award in 1947 for The Little White Horse, now known as J. K. Rowling's favorite children's book. Goudge is widely loved for her elegant prose, humorous insight into human personalities, and vivid descriptions of beauty. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A scent of Water
From the beginning to the end this book has touched my soul.It's timeless in it's understanding of human nature as the story weaves a tale through three different time periods and brings it all togather in the 20th century life of one woman. It will leave you with a deep sense of goodness.

Great respons
Thanks for your great and efficient service.I received the book in great condition.

A Magical Story
Over a period of 20 years I have read and re-read this book many times. It meets the true test of a wonderful book because it never grows tiresome. Instead, each re-reading is a new entrance to a magical world that seems to transcend time. As I read the book, I almost forget who and where I am, entering into Miss Elizabeth's magical kingdom. I am never sure which character I identify with more, because I love almost everyone in the book. I seem somewhat unable to describe how her writing moves me out of the present reality into her own world of children and mental illness and groundedness, but it does so ever so enchantingly. As I move forward and back in time within the book, I too discover the scent of water and move out on living water.

Is this a book, or a long, lovely, poem, or both?
It's hard to describe this lovely, enchanting book.It's one of my favorite books and I periodically reread it.It has lovely descriptions of Nature and is a story about the Most Sacred Mystery there is.Love, all kinds of Love.This is probably one of the most life-affirming books I have ever read.

This is one of those books you go deeply into and which becomes real to you.Indeed, while you are reading it, it is your reality!And what a truly Magickal reality is.This book weaves a Magick Spell.Pure Enchantment of the best kind.

So go to Appledore and like so many of us, become a citizen of this lovely town.

Ah...what Joy there is to be found in the pages of a really good book!!!

Still Waters Run Deep
I concur with all of the reviews so far.This book has never failed to comfort and calm me; I have read it at least five times and learned new things each time.As in her other books, Miss Goudge blends past and present in a way that dispels loneliness.Her characters are delightful, her garden and interior descriptions beyond compare, and her capacity for understanding suffering and bringing it into the light of redemption a rare gift.If I meet a Goudge fan I know I've met a person who sees beneath the surface of things, into the heart. ... Read more

Product Description
When orphan Maria arrives at Moonacre Manor, she feels as if she's come home.Her new guardian is kind and funny, and everyone there is like an old friend.But beneath the beauty and comfort lies a tragedy. Maria is determined to find out about it, change it, and give her own life story a happy ending.This new-fashioned story is just as satisfying and memorable as your favorite fairy tale.

"The theme is as old as the fairy tales, and it is written with a haunting beauty of wording and atmosphere . . . A book to cherish, to read again and again and again." (The Saturday Review ) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (92)

One of the best books I've ever read!
I think The Little White Horse is one of the best books I've ever read! The author is so detailed that her story literally jumps off the page at you! I could find myself reading this book for hours on end. I highly recommend this book to people of all ages and I mean ALL. I think that this book is wonderful. I think it's so good that I'd say that this book deserves more than five stars! In my opinion anyway. But if you are thinking about purchasing this book, you should! It'll be worth it completely! Be prepared to enter a world filled with magic and adventure!

The Brave Soul And The Pure Spirit!
Maria Merrywealther had, for all her young life, always lived in London. She was a London lady born and bread and she loved her London home that overlooked London square. It was here that she had her only friend, a boy with a feather in his hat named Robin, but according to Miss Heliotrope he only imaginary.

Upon the death of her long absent father Maria became an orphan, and so her governess Mrs Heliotrope, Wiggins and herself were to leave London and move to the unrefined and ill-comforted country to a place called Moonacre to live with her last remaining relative, her cousin Sir Benjamin.

But what Maria finds at Moonacre is not at all what she expected, the country is a beautiful and enchanting place to live and its people are so nice that Maria finds that she instantly loves them all. But there is a darkness hanging over Moonacre and nothing is what it seems, especially not a little white horse and a large dark dog.

The Little White Horse is a symbol for purity and it is exactly Maria's pure heart and bravery that drives this classic story of morality, friendship and love. The wrongs of the past must be healed before those in the present are truly to be happy, and only through the actions of one girl can peace be found at last. Although set in the past it is a sweet and timeless story that has been enjoyed for generations, and will continue to bring joy for generations to come.

A 5th grade girl's favorite book!
This is one of the few books that really touches your heart.It makes you want to keep reading at every moment because it never loses your interest.I love Maria Merriweather's character and how you feel as if you are her friend discovering the mystery together with her.There is a deeper meaning and moral in the story as it unfolds and it has a very satisfying ending that stays with you. I would recommend this book for girls of all ages.I'll definitely be reading it again and again!

A Lovely Little Book
The story revolves around recently orphaned Maria Merryweather, who after the death of her father is forced to move from her townhouse in London to an isolated country manor owned by her cousin, Sir Benjamin. Maria is an uptight, slightly snobbish character at the beginning, upset at having to leave the city and already certain she will hate her "backwater" country surroundings.

Upon her arrival however, Maria finds herself enchanted by her new home. Moonacre Manor is beautiful, Sir Benjamin is kind and welcoming (if rather eccentric) and the nearby village is lovely and full of friendly townsfolk. This ideal setting is marred by the presence of the Black Men, poachers and thieves who live in the woods near Silverydew, and as Maria later discovers, by the tragic history of the Merryweather family, a past full of greed, misunderstanding and lost love. Maria decides to set things right, reversing her ancestors' wicked actions, and working to bring peace to the valley.

The story unfolds slowly, moving at a leisurely pace and taking plenty of time to describe the minute details of Maria's new home, the clothes, food, furniture, countryside, companions and lifestyle. The book is full of beautiful ideas and images, little vignettes that will stay in your mind the way images in fairy tales do. Some people will find these accounts tedious; others will happily lose themselves in them.

Rather than following the typical fantasy novel path and handing the reader a fully-realized world full of strange cultures and creatures, The Little White Horse is set in the "real world", where no one expects magic. When magic does make its way into the story, it is not with great dramatic flourishes, but with "little" enchantments; lost pearls, mysterious gifts, a lion for a guard, imaginary friends and brief, moonlit glimpses of the titular "little white horse", which is not a horse at all, but something far more ethereal.

The conflicts too, are not your average fantasy world-shaking upheavals. Although the obvious "enemy" in the story would seem to be the Black Men, it soon becomes clear that the real enemy is the temptation to give into the selfishness and greed that live inside us all. By rising above her own selfish tendencies, and pushing others to do so as well, Maria solves the conflicts in the valley not with force and violence, but with patience and understanding, which makes for a refreshing change.

I found the romance between Robin and Maria a little forced (you pretty much know from the beginning that they're going to end up together, killing any suspense) but my only real complaint is the patriarchal tone of the story, and how it is so passively accepted by the female characters, something I found a continually annoyance. Maria is often chided for her vanity and "unbecoming female curiosity" and almost all the male characters despise women. (At the beginning of the story, when Maria and Miss Heliotrope arrive at Moonacre Manor, Sir Benjamin announces proudly that they are the first women to set foot there in 20 years, and they seem to be tolerated only by acquiescing to the men and continually indulging their little foibles.) However, I could look past it and still enjoy the rest of the book.

There is also a definite religious undercurrent to the story, but asides from a few remarks regarding atheism, it never really forces itself on the reader. Rather it is a facet of the characters' lives and culture, and part of their beliefs.

Overall I found it a sweet, lovingly written little fairy tale, a bit slow and bit simple, but still a highly enjoyable read.

The Little White Horse
The Little White Horse is an excellent children's book.It's appealing to children and adults.An enjoyable book with imaginative characters, well written and charming.
I read this book as a child, my daughter has read it many times as a little girl and now my granddaughter has received it as a gift from me. Truly a keepsake.
Good for ages 9 on up. A great birthday gift. ... Read more

Product Description
Lucilla has spent a lifetime making the Hampshire estate of Damerosehay a tranquil haven for the Eliot family. When her favourite grandson, David, falls in love with an unsuitable woman Lucilla feels is unsuitable, she sees her most cherished ambitions put at risk. But can she persuade David and Nadine to put duty before love? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Wholesomely lovely
This book is simply beautiful! I read it in one day because I was so drawn in by the story and characters. It teaches you about life without being preachy or sappy and the characters have a homey charm all their own. This book is about the quiet beauty of everyday life, the faithfulness of love, and the importance of family and sacrifice. I was sad to turn the last page, but immediately ordered the next in the series. I read two books by Goudge before picking up this one, and was struck all over again with her quiet charm and insight.

tweety bird
Good third of the elliot trilogy,Moving and gives a great sense of place.

5***** In All Ways!
Thank you so much to "lovebooks2".
I got "Bird in the Tree" in much less time than I had thought I would, and and had a very nice chat with the seller.....the book is in fine shape, despite it's age, and I am overall very pleased!
Thanks, again, much,
~Linda

Maeve Binchy meets CS Lewis
What a remarkable writer Goudge is.Lyrical descriptions; deep insight into the dreams and motivations of people: she helps us see ourselves at our best, and then shows us people who achieve good and loving things without making them seem heroic.
And she's a great story-teller.This is not hard, gritty fiction; it is lovingly written, with characters we come to care about, deeply.The depth of her soul and her sense of values shine in her writing.She shows us a world that is filled with beauty and glory, and then shows us that this is our world, if we have eyes to see.

A feast of visual imagery
A feast of visual imagery.McCadden's narrative is superb.She brings each character to life as if she could throw her voice into young, old, male and female.Hats off to you.Goudge is remarkable.I enjoyed listening in the car driving about.Would love to get a copy in print to highlight the imaginative, colorful, descriptive comparisons, etc. ... Read more

Product Description
Judy Cameron is ever so bored with London and her glamorous, perfect life. Stifled, her imagination seizes on a picture she sees in a shop window, a picture of the Scottish wilds. It inspires her.

Strong-willed, she prevails on her parents and fiance to change their summer plans and head for cold, damp Scotland--sure that there she will find the freedom she craves.

Elizabeth Goudge is known for her romantic portrayals of life in England during the early decades of the 20th century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Living history
The Middle Window
Elizabeth Goudge is one of my favorite authors: I wish she'd written more books!Every book is different, but with insights that surprise and challenge.This one fits that pattern well!
A story beautifully woven together that shows hope fulfilled.

Pretty cover,but beware-- this edition full of typographical errors!
The Middle WindowThis book is part of a new series of Elizabeth Goudge's classics.It appears to have been reprinted by a computer scan. At least, there was no care taken in the proof-reading of this fine-appearing book.It has been produced on good paper with an artistic, shiny cover. Unfortunately, nearly every page has several errors which can be merely distracting or can completely change the meaning of the text.I bought this as a gift, but could never give it as a gift.Some examples:p.84-"...could spend the whole morning cleaning but (out) someone's pigs"; p.128-"...Angus left them to their desert (dessert)"; P.130, quoting a poem-"'And now I hold heaven dose (close) clasped to my breast'"; p. 137-" 'Judith, how can I? The dan (clan) marches tonight.'"; p. l42-"...given her on August l8th, l74J".One of the worst, possibly, was on p.106- "'sounds like the devil rolling his bath rub (bathtub) round hell'".In addition, there are many cases of punctuation errors, especially exclamation points which are rendered as the letter "l" or the number "1", and words are italicized when there appears no reason for emphasis.The constant appearance of errors made reading the book frustrating, and spoiled the "suspension of disbelief" a reader needs to really enjoy this excellent story.

Read this book time and again....
I have read this book many times over the years.It is a favorite of mine and no doubt will hold a prominent position on your bookshelf as well.Elizabeth Goudge deftly tells a tale of Scotland through the ages. Her characters are well developed.The heroine recalls a love affair that transcends lives and geographical locale.Her lover, a soldier, comes to her through the middle window and their boundless love brings them both joy and suffering.No other book takes readers on a love journey through the silver seas.

love and reincarnation
A story about a couple which is able to discover a past life and continue their mission. Elizabeth Goudge was interested by idea of reincarnation and imagine how things which have not been solved in the past could go on in the present. A love story which can make believe how important our deeds are. A lovely country and a part of history.

My favorite book for the last 20 years!!! And I read a lot!
A perfect romance story. Well written and totally engrossing! Combine Scotland, a lively and intelligent group of characters, and a little reincarnation, and viola! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

A Love that Grows
When a man sends for the wrong girl to marry him in a faraway place a love story starts.
Although the wrong bride comes to New Zealand ,due to a slip of the pen, William decides he will never let her know the mistake he made. He always loves the other girl, but is determined to make the best of the situation.Many years pass and the love triangle is resolved in the best way possible for all those involved.
This book also addresses much of the history of New Zealand and of sailing adventures.

tapestry of a book
Elizabeth Goudge writes like no other. Her descriptions of scenes are so detailed and she manages to capture exactly the right essence of what she wants to convey onto paper. Her scenes of early mornings and other happy experiences for the characters for example are a lot like the paintings of the French Rococo period such as Fragonard's works-- glittering, thriving, magical, whimsical.

Green Dolphin Street
The book I reeived (second hand) was too much money.I should not have paid more than $3.00 plus shipping.

When I opened the package the smell of mustiness almost knocked me over and had to be set out doors in the sun for several days to dry out.

No One Proofread This Edition
This was my first exposure to the writing of Elizabeth Goudge and she is magnificent. This edition, however, is a travesty. It has more typos than I have ever seen in a "professionally" published book - there must be twenty per page. Just one example is "arid" for "and" in at least fifty places - I am not kidding! It is so annoying to be reading her beautifully painted pictures and have them destroyed by the juvenile publishing job. It's like a monkey typed it and then no one proof-read it. I agree with the other reviewer - read this book but avoid this edition!

green dolphin street
of all the books i've read by elizabeth goudge, this one easily rates at the top of the list of beautifully written, redeeming stories.you meet the characters when they are just children, and live their lives with them to their old age... something like how fully you get to know david copperfield. turning the last page is one of those sad experiences of wanting it to go on and on... these are friends that i've known their whole lives.i took it slow and savored the story over a summer.GREAT book! ... Read more

Product Description
The second novel in Elizabeth Goudge's trilogy about the Eliot family, PILGRIM'S INN takes up their story after WW II, but focuses on Lucilla's soldier son George, his beautiful wife Nadine and their five children. At the heart of the story is their acquisition of an ancient pilgrim's inn on the river. Under the author's skillful hand the inn develops a life of its own that touches not only its new owners but also those strangers who stop there for a rest on their pilgrimages.

"Affirms the hope that good will triumph providing we are willing to exercise the necessary discipline." (San Francisco Chronicle) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Also called "The Herb of Grace" part II of Eliot family trilogy
This book by Elizabeth Goudge is part II in the Eliot Family trilogy, and is also released under the title "The Herb of Grace" a reference to the name of the old inn the family buys in the country after World War II.The first book in the series is: "The Bird in the Tree" and last is: "The Heart of the Family".

Goudge was a really unique and authentic voice. She was deeply spiritual, which may automatically cause many people to turn away from her books. She does not preach, however, and her characters do not preach "at you."They live lives that may include growth, suffering, and perhaps eventually opening their eyes to the beauty around them that for some reason they were unable to see before;there is much about the beauty of the forest, nature, the wild animals, and very little or none about religion per se.In fact, in this book the eldest Eliot son, Hilary, an Anglican Clergyman, says to someone about his past Sunday sermon, "I think they all got a good sleep, I'm glad I could do that for them..."its a bittersweet dry British humor, he's aware of his limitations, and knows very well those who come to his services are more inclined to doze than be enlightened.

The force of the family, the heart of it all, is Lucilla, Lady Eliot, widow, mother of many children, of whom three sons were killed in World War I, and her eldest, Hilary, was badly wounded.World War II has quite literally just ended, her grandson David, whom she raised, as his father, her favorite child, was one of those sons killed in the first war, was a bomber pilot during this last war, and is now suffering from a typeof nervious breakdown...we'd call it post traumatic stresssyndrome.Another son, with a egotistical wife and too many children, is mentally and physically exhausted fromhis work in the war as well.Lucilla is determined that she will get all these remaining family members out to the country, away from London, to heal, no matter how she has to do it.She's not beyond manipulation, "for their own good".

Its an interesting insight to see England right after WWII, when everyone still had ration coupons, and food, gasoline, everything, was rationed and people made do by trading or growing gardens or, as one character says about picking someone up at the train station, the person will have to go down there with the bakery truck, and come back up with the meat truck, there's no other way to and from that week...

Its a lovely, old fashioned little story...not boring, but no overt sex or violence, just the lives of a family trying to stick together and survive and get through things.The writing of Goudge makes it memorable. Its not, in my opinion, sentimental, though some would say it is.There is a depth to it, and to all her works that I have read, that stay with you, and you do remember these people, unlike how many other characters in books?Her stories are like little jewels, and the further we get from that long ago time, the more precious they are.

Acceptance
Pilgrim's Inn reminds me of nothing as much as Alcott's Little Women. Part of a 3 title family saga, it tells of the efforts of 3 generations of Eliots to adjust to post WWII English life.The central theme is love and the virtues of giving of oneself. The story, which centers upon a move to a medieval building that was originally an inn for religious pilgrims, is frequently interrupted with little philosophical homilies applicable to the specific character in question. It's a pleasant read and a highly descriptive, interesting tale, but I found myself skimming the sermonettes with ever increasing rapidity.

A beautiful book, well written.
I highly recommend this lovely book. The basic plot centers around the Elliot family who purchase a Medieval inn in the English countryside. Themes include continuity (of family)and healing from past mistakes andpoor decisions. Goudge is a very descriptive writer. She takes you to thehouses Dameroshay and the Herb of Grace, and into the enchanted forestwhere the fairy person lives, caring for the needy animals. Characters aretrue to life set in the post WWII period. I also recommend this for usingin High School English lit courses (which I teach) for examples of not onlydescriptive writing, but also for allusion, character development, and gooduse of plot. Even though it is out of print, this is a lovely book thatdeserves numerous readings and will provide hours of enjoyment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Brand new book
I thought I was getting an old book but this book is brand new. the binding and the cover is flawless and made to look like old books, just the way I like it but the pages give it away. The paper is thin and one can see through the next page in the back. Overall it was a good purchase albeit a little overpriced.

Tender and lovely
I love this book. It helps that it's set in Ely, a breathtaking place (though she never actually names it, and changes some details, Goudge did confirm that the unnamed city is Ely). The author clearly loves her characters, even the somewhat difficult to love ones. The setting is beautifully described. And when she wants to insert historical details, she just puts them in using her authorial voice, rather than trying to force them into a character's voice.

There's a nice balance of sad and joyous, serious and amusing. The sadness is what might be called "beautiful sad", as opposed to "ugly sad".

A delightful book to sink into, like a warm and inviting armchair by the fire.

A Writer's Writer -
Elizabeth Gouge is one of the finest wordsmiths I have ever read.Her stories are gentle, compassionate - showing her abiding compassion for human kind, with our flaws and our nobility equally recognized.A woman of faith, she weaves a magic through her tales--a twisting of earthly realities with spiritual mysteries, and she denies any limits on reality, knowing that there is more to this world, and to our being in it, than the "reality" many people insist on defining.There is humility in her work, but tremendous greatness.And her writing is as lovely as a Japanese ink drawing - deft, smooth, simple, evocative.She can handle a sentence like nobody else in the world--words sweet and rich as butter, a complete pleasure to run through the mind and the imagination.I wish she were still alive and I could write to her.I wish I could know her better.I'd love to hear what she might have to say about quite a few things, these days.This is my favorite book in all the world.That's the greatest praise I can offer.

Contents:
The setting for the story is a cathedral city in the fens. The city is populated with charmingly depicted characters that ooze quaintness from every pore. The main character is the old Dean, known in the town as a fierce and relentless man due to his hunting down of the city's corruption. And yet, the Dean is a misunderstood man. His love and fidelity are often met with indifference in the town, and this is even more true of his own wife who is deterred by his ugliness and who finds his devotion to her repulsive. Yet help is at hand, for the Dean owns a beautiful watch: a watch that becomes the starting point for a new friendship for the Dean, and new hope.

A work of quiet resonance...
Elizabeth Goudge is a fine writer.Her language is rich as butter.All of her stories are interesting, but this one is beautiful.I believe that, after all the books I have read in my rather long life, books of all manner of styles and genres, this book is the deepest and best.Her characterizations are strong and complex, her consideration of the human state both honest and compassionate.There is great affection for humanity, even in her most honest and grievingportrayal of it.Beautiful writing, strong story, interesting and provoking characters - I enjoy so much the honor of spending a few hours with this woman and the depth of her faith, courage and love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Enchanting city
HThis lovely story is set in Torminster (a lightly disguised Wells) at the turn of the last century.Jocelyn, injured in the Boer War, comes to stay with his saintly Grandfather and sharp Grandmother, and their grandchildren, the practical, questioning Hugh Anthony, and intense, artistic Henrietta.Jocelyn opens a bookshop in Torminster, much to Grandmother's disgust - a grandson in trade, o horror! "But the apostles were in trade, dear - fish" Grandfather points out."What has that to do with it?" she retorts "the Apostles were not my grandsons!"The book is full of delightful characters, vivacious Felicity whom Jocelyn loves, eccentric Mrs Jameson whose husband was eaten by cannibals, the haughty Dean, the determinedly bachelor Bishop, neurotic poet Gabriel Ferranti, and many others.The story is full of details about the cathedral year and customs and has strong religious felling running through it, but a lot of humour too.Miss Goudge wrote two more books featuring the same cast of characters, Sister of the Angles and Blue Hills, they are all delightful.

The City of the Bells rings in love, loss and friendship
This book, in my opinion one of Goudge's best, is about the power of love (as many of her books are).Set in Edwardian England, the plot is simple.A young man, Jocelyn, invalided out of the army after being injured in the Boer War, cannot decide what to do with himself so he pays a visit to his grandparents who live in a small cathedral town; his grandfather is a canon of the cathedral.Living with the elderly couple are Hugh, a grandson and cousin of Jocelyn, and Henrietta, whom Grandfather adopted from an orphanage.There are also all the eccentric characters who people the Cathedral Close and the town, all of whom are bound up in each others lives in some interesting ways.Jocelyn finds his destiny, love, and the meaning of service on all levels.Henrietta discovers her past and her future.And what of the mysterious, melancholy poet who left so many clues about himself behind?Is he dead or alive?This book is completely enthralling.I've read it I don't know how many times and its charm and gentleness never pall.The Blue Hills is the follow-up book to this one. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a collection of poetry and prose which comprise the favourite passages on the subject of faith of the novelist, Elizabeth Goudge. The passages include selections from the Bible, George Herbert, Julian of Norwich, Rainer Maria Rilke, Leo Tolstoy and Gerard Manley Hopkins. ... Read more

Product Description
In this unusual story of a family and the strangers it takes to its heart, Elizabeth Goudge reintroduces us to the Eliots, a clan we grow to love and cherish.

"The author's exquisite portrayal of children, grownups, animals and the English countryside gives it the refreshing charm for which she is famous." (Library Journal)

A sequel to PILGRIM'S INN, THE HEART OF THE FAMILY is the third in Goudge's trilogy about the Eliot family. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A beautiful escape
The Eliot trilogy is my favorite of the Goudge books - I wish it could be adapted into a Masterpiece Theater series. The characters are complex and drawn with love, the descriptions relax me, the setting can't be better - the English countryside. Plus there are wise thoughts sprinkled throughout. A great series!

Tough Going But Worth It
I disagree with William Tegner, who has not apparently read the preceding 2 books and was therefore clearly at sea most of the time.This is a very good book, the third of the Eliot trilogy.It is not merely "more of the same" about the Eliots, but in fact is considerably denser, i.e., harder to get through, and even, dare I say it, more despairing than any other book by Goudge that I have read (and unlike Tegner, I have read many).The themes it raises are those of war, "the pity of war, the pity war distills", atomic devastation, and at the more local level, those of familial (and familiar) disappointments.Specifically, Ben, the eldest of Naomi and George's children has turned away from the career they selected for him, and has also announced that he will marry, as his parents see it, "beneath him".This is not a happy book, and it is tough going after the almost lyric poetry of the earlier two, but it is well worth the effort.It is Goudge at her most adult, her least fanciful.It is like suddenly reading prose where before it was all poetry.

Pretty Awful
When I was at school a master wrote on the third page of a boy's essay, "no marks so far". I felt this constantly as I waded through page after page of Ms. Goudge's luscious prose. Nothing seemed to happen, though there were platitudinous descriptions of the English countryside throughout. Or at least "an" English countryside,similar to that described in John Major's hapless "Back to Basics".

Obviously I wasn't alone. On page 226 Lucilla remarks to her son, Hilary (yes, Hilary) that, "this has been an eventful day". "Has it?", replies Hilary,"I hadn't noticed anything particular about it". Nor had I. Perhaps I'd missed out on the "spirituality" referred to by another reviewer. If Hilary had too, that was unfortunate, because he is a clergyman.

This is an uneventful descrition of the life enjoyed by 0.1 % of the English population fifty years ago. I presume they enjoyed it, but that did not apply to a boy who had been killed in a car accident (this is incidental, not part of the plot - there isn't one). It is mentioned in passing that he will never enjoy the pleasures of having a motorbike, "playing rugger" or standing knee deep watching the waves come in. No, nor playing/watching soccer,going to the movies and buying fish and chips afterwards. But I imagine Ms. Goudge "wouldn't know" about that sort of thing.

This was the first Elizabeth Goudge book I have read. It will also be the last. It was both pretty and awful.

A fairy tale for adults
'The Heart of the Family' is the third in a trilogy of books about the Eliot family, who live in the ancient and atmospheric houses of Damerosehay and The Herb of Grace. They are a talented bunch, middle-class and in many ways privileged, but also suffering and making mistakes as they struggle to make sense of life and their own sufferings. Elizabeth Goudge has a highly imaginative and siritual vision of the inner meaning of life and invests ordinary events with quite intense beauty and sweetness. I have read a dismissive comment that she writes fairytales for adults. Actually, there is truth in this, because she reduces life to its deepest significance and understands that we must have myths and symbols in our imagination which help us to grasp this meaning. Her work rewards careful reading and re-reading and one can ponder some of her sentences for a long time. Some would find her work over-sentimental, but it seems to me that she has paid a high price in terms of personal search and even suffering to understand some of the things she writes about. Her writings are not in keeping with the material spirit of the age, but contain a timeless wisdom. They are also enjoyable and entertaining to read. ... Read more

Product Description
It is the summer of 1940 and England is fighting for her life. In a rural corner of England the vagaries of war bring together a group of people wrestling the enemy within--fear, despair, loss of faith.

This is Elizabeth Goudge at her best. In this compelling drama of human trial and triumph, she takes us from London air raids to country sunsets and weaves a story of courage and understanding from the threads of history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

a rare and unusual book.
So many stories--especially stories written in or set in times of war--bludgeon a reader over the head with the horrors human beings commit upon one another.Goudge write stories where people struggle to be kind to one another, and given the setting of this book--England during the Blitz--their battles are eloquent, heart-breaking, and ultimately transcendent.Each of the many characters are vividly real in their distress and their desires, and each confronts a battle within that calls forth every resource of their humanity and strength.And all of this told with prose that evokes landscape and setting in ways astonishing and all too rare in fiction.Goudge deserves to be read, celebrated, and studied much more than she is. Her books are memorable, evocative; reading them is at once a humbling and illuminating experience, and this is one of her best.

Outstanding!
Elizabeth Goudge is my favorite author, and this is one of my favorites by her.If you like Rosamunde Pilcher you will love Goudge!This book was written during the war (WWII), and takes place during the same time period. It was so interesting to read, knowing that the author was in the midst of that horrible event, not knowing how it would end.Like all of her stories, it is filled with love and the eternal optimism of the human spirit. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

An Old Fashioned Love Story Masterfully Told : Green Dolphin Street
Before reading Green Dolphin Street I had seen the film as a teenager. At that age what primarily interested me was the spectacular earthquake sequence and the tidal wave. Although the movie version followed quite well the novel, as is usually the case, the novel was unequivocally better than the movie. It tells an old-fashioned tale, set in the mid-nineteenth century, of unrequited love, mistaken identity and spiritual redemption.One could even argue that there is the element of women's liberation in the character of Marianne who envies the freedom and self-determination males have and seeks to achieve her own by moulding the character of the man she marries. By way of contrast her sister Marguerite never marries the man she loves because of a cruel twist of fate and eventually becomes a nun believing that this vocation is what has been ordained for her since the beginning of time. If you are a cynic or one who considers predictability a literary demerit, you will probably not get farther than 50 of the 500 plus pages of this book. But if you are not too jaded by modern fiction replete with gratuitous sex and violence, go along with Elizabeth Goudge and Marianne who leave their home in the Channel Islands on a precipitous voyage to New Zealand where they find adventure and a good life.
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The Channel Islands were divided in allegiance between France and England. Of French blood, and yet subjects of Queen Victoria, the islanders were curious hybrid creatures. But now, in 1888, England is slowly stretching out her arms to them.

Colin du Frocq is eight years old, and his dreams are of the sea that surrounds his home. By day he steals away and takes to the sea in any boat that is sailing. At night he lies in bed listening to the waves beating against the shore. Then one night, in a wild storm, a ship drives onto the nearby cliffs and a strange man enters Colin's life, changing Colin's course forever.

"A glowing book...beloved scenes transplanted into the gardens of the Channel Islands." (The New York Times) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Wonderful, but full of typos
The story is wonderful,with Goudge's usual exquisite and beautifully descriptive writing. I highly recommend it. My problem was with the poor quality of editing in the copy I received from Amazon. I have NEVER purchased a book with so many glaring errors in editing. I don't know what happened to the proof-reader, if there was one. About 1/3 of the way through, I finally began to jot down the pages with glaring typos....I counted 48 from page 100 forward. This is inexcusable in a new book which I paid full price for. From what I can deduce, these books are printed in some connection with Amazon...they need to get new proof-readers. Sometimes the intended meaning of the word was difficult to determine. Once, there was a word somehow printed in German, that I happened to be able to translate. What gives?? That said, the novel remains one of my favorites. I just wish editions from a more consistently reliable publisher were available.

Charming and funny!
What a wonderful book!The characters are so fun an charming and still real.I love Elizabeth Goudge as a child and read this one as an adult. Loved it!

A Top 10 on My List of Favorite Children's Books
Island Magic charmed me to my toes.This book is truly magical as Mrs. Goudge captures her readers and transports them to another time and place.Her writing style, characterization, and plot are all top notch - full of a grace, style, and emotion rarely found in any genre today.I read a library copy about 10 years ago and truly wish it was one of those books I did not return.It would've been worth almost any amount of library fines.Anyway, it's on my Top 10 list along with I Captured the Castle; The Hobbit; and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

Truly Magical
As the first reviewer implied, the images from this book stay with you the rest of your life.You become one of the du Frocq family children and more your own self as a child.This would be in my list of books considered for my top spot; I've had it searched for by used book stores in the past and paid $35-$40 for it.

I love Elizabeth Goudge
If you do to, you will love this. The vision of this island, its flowers, cottages, and town, is clear in my memory though it has been years since I read it. The presence of the sea surrounding everything is powerful. Unlike Linnets and Valerians, this did not scare me as a youngster, when I read it. ... Read more

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Little Polly Flowerdew lives with her two maiden aunts, and she is absolutely sure that something special is going to happen this Christmas. She leaves her bedroom window open on Christmas Eve, just in case the three wise men decide to come visit. When she wakes up on Christmas morning, more than one miracle seems to have taken place.

A moving, lyrical, and endearing chapter book, celebrating the magic as well as the mystery of Christmas, this is Godine's first title by Elizabeth Goudge, mistress of the art of storytelling, and it's charmingly illustrated with ink drawings by Margot Tomes. It is a perfect Christmas read-aloud for young children and their parents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Invite Polly into your life and your Christmas or other literary traditions!
For my first Elizbeth Goudge book, I was DELIGHTED to read about Polly and her enduring love,unsurpassed optimism and inspite of obvious obstacles, she retained her faith & persistance. EG touches on romance, love (Tip), delight, humility, faith in God, questioning of faith in God and the strength of the human spirit (a gift from God).Polly is surrounded by friends & family who doubt her faith and dreams. Finally, her Aunt Olivia demonstrates true strength of courage and dignity with her legacy for Polly & Tip.

Make this a "MUST READ" for your elementary/jr high children and a MUST READ at each season for the celebration of the birth (Christmas) of the only person to split time - Jesus the Christ.

A Charming Christmas Story
I love this book!Although I'm 42 and my child will no longer sit with me to read it, I read it every Christmas.This is a charming Christmas story from a simpler time.It's little Polly's first Christmas since her parents died.She's living with her aunts now in an old English seaport town and having a little trouble adjusting.Goudge tells a story that will remind you to notice every-day miracles and the ways in which children can keep us all young.The reading level makes it appropriate for children comfortable with chapter books, or for reading out loud over a few nights before Christmas to settle the younger kids down. Please note that I did not buy my copy on Amazon, so I can't speak to the editions it is selling.In fact, I can't remember how my copy came to me, but I am trying to find copies to share with my young neices.P.S.If you want to know what a "sugar mouse" is, try looking at a shop that imports British gourmet items.We did! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

More island magic
This is a collection of short stories about the du Frocq family from Island Magic.The tone is much more light-hearted than the earlier book, there is none of the dark drama of Island Magic, the Grandfather for instance, although an autocrat is not a malignant figure as he is in island Magic.In this collectionthe boisterous and ingeneous du Frocq children involve a number of unwary characters in their madcap schemes, a famous actor finds himself taken prisoner and locked in the loft, a publisher is persuaded to buy a bookshop that will run at a massive loss, a doctor rash enough to set up a rival practice to Grandfather's is outwitted, the new island Seigneur is persuaded not to evict an aged miller from his mill.The stories are full of humour and charm, this is a lovely book. ... Read more