book data
179 ratings, 4.26 average rating, 14 reviews
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published
October 25th 1999
by Houghton Mifflin
binding
Paperback, 234 pages
isbn
0395971284
(isbn13: 9780395971284)
description
Simon, the foundling from The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, arrives in London to meet an old friend and pursue the study of painting. Instead he finds h...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 226)
Read in January, 2008
Fantastic. I think Dr. Furnace ("Furrneaux, if you please, Furrneaux -- I cannot endure the English pronunciation.") was my favorite character. Then Dido Twite. But everyone's so great, and unique, and funny, and the dialects are fantastic, and I pretty much never have any idea what Dido is saying ("Pooh, what a capsy, weevilly fortune"), but I like it that way.
One of my favorite parts, a short history and description of Battersea Castle:
He paused a moment, gazing in awe at the huge mass of buildings composing the castle. It stood close to the river, on either side and to the rear stretched the extensive park and gardens, filled with splendid trees, fountains and beds of brilliant flowers in shades of pink, crimson, and scarlet. The castle itself was built of pink granite, and enclosed completely a smaller, older building which the present Duke's father had considered too insignificant for his town residence. The new castle had taken forty years to build; three architects and hundreds of men had worked day and night, and the old Duke had personally selected every block of sunset-colored stone that went to its construction. "I want it to look like a great half-open rose," he declared to the architects, who were fired with enthusiasm by this romantic fancy. It was begun as a wedding present to the Duke's wife, whose name was Rosamond, but unfortunately she died some nine years before it was completed. "never mind, it will do for her memorial instead," said the grief-stricken but practical widower. The work went on. At last the final block was laid in place. The Duke, by now very old, went out in his barouche and drove slowly along the opposite riverbank to consider the effect. He paused midway for a long time, then gave his opinion. "It looks like a cod cutlet covered in shrimp sauce," he said, drove home, took to his bed, and died....more
One of my favorite parts, a short history and description of Battersea Castle:
He paused a moment, gazing in awe at the huge mass of buildings composing the castle. It stood close to the river, on either side and to the rear stretched the extensive park and gardens, filled with splendid trees, fountains and beds of brilliant flowers in shades of pink, crimson, and scarlet. The castle itself was built of pink granite, and enclosed completely a smaller, older building which the present Duke's father had considered too insignificant for his town residence. The new castle had taken forty years to build; three architects and hundreds of men had worked day and night, and the old Duke had personally selected every block of sunset-colored stone that went to its construction. "I want it to look like a great half-open rose," he declared to the architects, who were fired with enthusiasm by this romantic fancy. It was begun as a wedding present to the Duke's wife, whose name was Rosamond, but unfortunately she died some nine years before it was completed. "never mind, it will do for her memorial instead," said the grief-stricken but practical widower. The work went on. At last the final block was laid in place. The Duke, by now very old, went out in his barouche and drove slowly along the opposite riverbank to consider the effect. He paused midway for a long time, then gave his opinion. "It looks like a cod cutlet covered in shrimp sauce," he said, drove home, took to his bed, and died....more
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Read in October, 2003
recommends it for:
Fans of Victorian Melodrama, Joan Aiken fans, Lemony Snicket Readers...
This second volume in the Wolves Chronicles follows the adventures of Simon the goose-boy, who journeys to London from the Willoughby estate, intent on studying art and becoming a great painter. Nothing is quite as he expected however, and as he makes friends in places high and low, Simon soon finds himself at the center of a dastardly Hanoverian plot...
A humorously convoluted Victorian melodrama, complete with plots, assassination attempts, kidnappings, shipwrecks, hidden identities,...more
A humorously convoluted Victorian melodrama, complete with plots, assassination attempts, kidnappings, shipwrecks, hidden identities,...more
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Read in September, 2004
This is the sequel to The Wolves of Willhoughby Chase, although it stands on its own just fine. Simon, the goose boy from Wolves, is moving to London to stay with Dr. Field and study art. When he reaches the house where Dr. Field is supposed to be staying, however, he finds that Field is no longer there -- and the family who lives there claims never to have met him! Simon is determined to learn what has become of the kind doctor. On the way, he meets young Dido Twite (a rapscallion...more
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Read in January, 1977
recommended to Laura by:
Gannyrecommends it for: absolutely everyone in the entire world
My beloved grandmother gave me several Joan Aiken books when I was a bit too young to read them. They sat on my shelf for a few years before I picked them up, and I read them several times over the ensuing years. Dido Twite is one of the most resourceful, courageous young heroines in young adult literature, and I can't wait to give this book to my nieces. It's a bit more advanced reading level, I think, and contains dialect which can be challenging for some kids but it's worth it.
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One of my very favourite children's books. A steampunk alt-history London (before either terms were common currency), plots, kings, thieves, assassinations, mysteries, danger, fun and, of course, the inimitable Dido Twite all mixed up with Simon and Sophie.
I like all the books in this series, but for me, this one is easily the most fluid and joyous of them all.
I like all the books in this series, but for me, this one is easily the most fluid and joyous of them all.
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Read in December, 2007
recommended to Alex by:
Anna
The second book in this series, but the first one that I read. It is about the very best which is interesting since the series hero, Dido, is actually only a minor character in it. The coincidences are over-the-top and the characters are sort of Dickensian. Really a top notch young adult book in a very decent series.
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The Wolves Chronicles start in earnest, because we meet the intrepid Dido--the tough Cockney heroine of most of the series). The book is set in the imaginary reigh of James III of England, which means that anything can happen: kidnappings, gunpowder plots, and hot-air balloon escapes.
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Read in September, 2008
I liked the next book in the series better, though this one had definite charm! I was surprised that Dido was oly a minor character in this book, since she is the main character of the next. Overall an enjoyable read.
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This is the sequel to wolves of whilloby chase. It's a creative, captivating plot, and i've read it twenty times
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Read in January, 1970
I might like this one even better than The Wolves of Willoughby Chase!
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quotes from this book
"He paused a moment, gazing in awe at the huge mass of buildings composing the castle. It stood close to the river, on either side and to the rear stretched the extensive park and gardens, filled with splendid trees, fountains and beds of brilliant flowers in shades of pink, crimson, and scarlet. The castle itself was built of pink granite, and enclosed completely a smaller, older building which the present Duke's father had considered too insignificant for his town residence. The new castle had taken forty years to build; three architects and hundreds of men had worked day and night, and the old Duke had personally selected every block of sunset-colored stone that went to its construction. 'I want it to look like a great half-open rose,' he declared to the architects, who were fired with enthusiasm by this romantic fancy. It was begun as a wedding present to the Duke's wife, whose name was Rosamond, but unfortunately she died some nine years before it was completed. 'never mind, it will do for her memorial instead,' said the grief-stricken but practical widower. The work went on. At last the final block was laid in place. The Duke, by now very old, went out in his barouche and drove slowly along the opposite riverbank to consider the effect. He paused midway for a long time, then gave his opinion. 'It looks like a cod cutlet covered in shrimp sauce,' he said, drove home, took to his bed, and died."
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