“In days of old, when knights were bold,And journeyed from their castles,Trusty men were left behind;Knights needed not the hassles.” Jimmy Buffett
While I read Edward Eager’s Knight’s Castle, it was the first part of the above refrain that kept running through my head. “In days of old, when knights were bold” fits the second Tales of Magic book perfectly.
Soon after started the book, I had to find out who Roger and Ann and their cousins Jack and Eliza were. It’s obvious they’re related to the children in Half Magic. Jack and Eliza’s mother is Katherine from that book. Martha’s children are Roger and Ann, and we meet them first. Their father is ill, and the family is traveling to Baltimore for the summer so he can go to the hospital there. Roger packs all of his model soldiers, ones that have been in the family for generations. He has one soldier, The Old One, who precedes all the others in timeframe. Roger discovers he’s magic when he warms up in his hands, and he wishes his father was well. He also wishes for an adventure.
When they arrive at their Aunt Katherine’s, they discover gifts sent to them by Aunt Jane and Uncle Mark, a castle and a dollhouse. That first night, Roger begins his adventure, and learns about some of the rules of magic when he ends up in the past, meeting Ivanhoe, Rebecca and Rowena. There’s a siege at the castle, and Roger is in trouble when he announces to all the soldiers that they’re not real, and ends up back in bed.
Every three nights, the children end up back in that world until they learn the rules of magic. They all become famous in that world, but Roger is still wishing for his big wish to come true. He wants his father to get well.
I enjoyed this second book, but not as much as Half Magic. I have to face the fact that I’m not eleven. I still believe magic is real, but I don’t believe I’ll end up back in Ivanhoe’s day, and I really don’t want to do that. And, I don’t know how many children will enjoy the book today. But, I would recommend that a parent read Half Magic aloud to a child about that age to see if they’re ready for the adventures of Knight’s Castle.
Knight’s Castle by Edward Eager. Harcourt, Inc., 1956. 198p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
Lesa, this and Little Women were the most important books of my childhood! I still have my copies! I love that you’re shining a light on Edward Eager’s wonderful work.
Ellen, Little Women and the Happy Hollisters were probably the most important to me. My father bought me Little Women, and the Happy Hollisters introduced me to mysteries. I’m so glad you still have yours!
Here’s another book my mom loved and introduced me to: The Peterkin Papers! It’s rare to meet anyone who knows those stories. But Eager and Lucretia Hale introduced me to different aspects of humor: the wit and whimsy of Eager’s books. The pure dimwitted-ness of the family in Hale’s stories. Thank goodness for the Lady from Philadelphia!
I haven’t read The Peterkin Papers, Ellen, but I do recognize the title. I’ve moved on. Today, I picked up Harriet the Spy, another book I never read as a kid. I’m not going to get to that one quite as soon, though.
My sister and I like Half Magic better, too (when we were 8 and 10!)
I’m just the wrong age, Kim, but I can appreciate them.
I love “Gypsies In the Palace”!
Jeff, I thought of you when I quoted Jimmy Buffett!