Grimbold's Other World

by Nicholas Stuart Gray

Mother Meg blew out the candle and closed the door behind her. A heavy weight landed on the bed and a husky voice asked, "Might I have your attention?" It is the black cat Grimbold who introduces the boy Muffler to the night-world, much more exciting than the day-time world, but also more alarming. Nicholas Stuart Gray was a professional actor and wrote many plays, both for stage and television. He was regarded as a pioneeer of children's theatre in Britain and also wrote many children's novels and collections of fantasy stories.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction, Classics, Cats, Fairy Tales

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Nicholas Stuart Gray (23 October 1922, Scotland - 17 March 1981) was a British actor and playwright, perhaps best known for his work in children's theatre in England. He was also an author of children's fantasy; he wrote a number of novels, a dozen plays, and many short stories. Neil Gaiman has written that Gray "is one of those authors I loved as a boy who holds up even better on rereading as an adult". Many other modern fantasy authors, such as Hilari Bell, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Kate Forsyth, Cassandra Golds, Katherine Langrish, Sophie Masson, and Garth Nix, cite Gray's work as something they enjoyed as children.

Perhaps his best-known books are The Seventh Swan and Grimbold's Other World. Gray often produced adaptations or continuations of traditional fairy tales and fantasy works, as in his Further Adventures of Puss in Boots. His The Stone Cage is a re-telling of Rapunzel from a cat's point of view. Over The Hills to Fabylon is about a city whose king has the ability to make it fly off across the mountains if he feels it is in danger.

Gray maintained a long-term collaborative relationship with set designer and illustrator Joan Jefferson Farjeon (sister of Eleanor Farjeon and Harry Farjeon); she supplied the costume and scenic designs for many of the theatrical productions of his plays, as well as the illustrations of his books.

---from wikipedia

Reviews

[robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books in the world, and one of my favorite authors. Nicholas Stuart Gray was retelling old fairy tales and inventing new ones long after their heyday, and long before it became trendy. Good fairy tales, like good ghost stories, are few and far between. His stories are innocent and tender and poignant, and entirely lovely. I highly recommend them for children or for adults.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this just reissued? I thought from the way the reviews looked that it was new, but the copy I got from my library was published in 1963. Given the past decade's glut of kids' and young-adult fantasies this tale may not seem as original to modern readers as it once did, but I think it is still an excellent light read.

A baby found abandoned in a scarf is named Muffler and raised as a goatherd in a small village. He grows to be a kind and honest boy who composes songs and has a special bond with animals. One night while he is sick, a cat named Grimbold comes and asks for help freeing his master from a sorcerer. Once Muffler is aware of the magical world next to his own, he keeps coming in contact with it and has a series of adventures.

[I got this from the library, but as of June 2010 they seem to have discarded it. Sad.:]

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reread, dug up from the second-hand vaults of Amazon; a happy reminder of the days when children s fiction was not big business and was allowed to be as odd and offbeat as it pleased.

[Sem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll ask the question I ask myself every time I think of Gray's books. Why are his works long out-of-print? Grimbold's Other World has everything to delight a child - a cat (if your tastes run in that direction), a dog (if they don't), a baby dragon, a sorcerer and his rather fetching son (Gray had a penchant for intriguing young men - fictionally speaking), dwarves (with, I think, a nod to Tolkien although I read this book first), goats, a hob, poetry... And nothing, as far as I can see that anyone nowadays could possibly object to. With all the rubbish on the market, we could do with new editions of his best works. The plays, I admit are a bit niche although I love those as well. There's no justice in this world.

[CLM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although there is a lost prince and various magical creatures in this book, it is the mastermind cat Grimbold who is the central character of this fantasy. One of my childhood favorites and a book that definitely needs to be republished to reach a new audience of fantasy lovers.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A starling purity and wisdom, like skipping the well and going straight to the spring.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm 40 years too old for this book so take my 2 start rating with a grain of salt. I found it boring and it didn't seem like there was much of a plot. I quit about 50% through.

[Janene Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book since I first read it when I was around 10 years old. A journey of discovery from the first page. Opening two sentences: "Once upon a mountain lived a lad. He was called Muffler, but that was not his name."
I wanted to be able to join Muffler and his adventures in the night world so much. It sounded so beautiful and lovely and mysterious. Not to mention little tidbits of tantalizing information as to who Muffler really is sprinkled throughout the book, but the reader is left to draw their own conclusion. Also love the poems at the end of each chapter.
The writing is elegant and approachable at the same time. I also very much enjoyed Nicholas Stuart Gray's collection of short stories, "Mainly in Moonlight", and my now adult daughter equally loves his "Apple Stone".
The books assume children are capable and thoughtful, which I always appreciate.
I wish there were more copies in print. They're hard to find nowadays.

[atb]

"He looked at the splendour and glitter of the night-kingdom round him. It was terrible and beautiful, and made him want to sing, and to make songs. Strange and alarming, it was yet a world he knew and loved."

"Muffler went slowly down the mountain with the goats and Grimbold. In the boy's mind a song was forming - a sad song - a happy song - a song of magic."

[Mike Colombo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was just a kid but it left a longlasting impresison

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fairy-tale book about a foundling who finds that because he is a poet, he can enter a fantastical night world where horses who plow fields by day, fly; where cats are the size of panthers; and dogs, the size of rabbits (self-image being everything). Episodic and chapters are followed by poems related to the adventure in the chapter.

[NC · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother hunted down this book for me when I was a child, because she loved it so much when she was little. I named both my cats after the cats in the book (a black cat called Grimbold, a tabby named Dulcie). This is a lovely storybook for children that will stay with you and make you look forward to the day when you can share it with someone else.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I read as a kid. I remember wishing I had a cat like Grimbold who would take me to that other world like he did for the boy in this story. Some great poetry too, as I recall.

[Avalon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - it is still on my bookcase and I re-read it every now and then. Grimbold is a delightful cat!

[Kimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to read it again!!!!

[Yassmin Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book. I first read it when I was 11 and it has stayed in my mind ever since. Re-reading it as an adult did not disappoint.

[Otone · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I choose magic,” he said. “It would cost me more to outgrow my dreams.”

[David Waring · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first childrens fiction books that I remember reading, and it began my life-long love of fantasy. "The Myths and Legends of Greece and Rome" and Morte d'Arthur" were on my parents' bookshelves, but always seemed dry and dusty, if enjoyable - but Grimbold's Other World was FUN! Even the pieces of poetry at the end of each chapter made me stop and ponder - "Truth is only what you think, It changes shape from day to day.....". It was ideal for someone reading above what the librarians felt I should, and shaped my future enjoyment of Tolkien, Moorcoock, and others. I heartily recommend it for all generations of children (if text remains relevant in the future), and some years ago my wife was good enough to get me a copy as an anniversary present. Reading it again confirmed my love, and proved that some childhood memories are true (maybe not the lovely English summers, though!). If you ever get the chance to read it, please do - just don't ask for my copy. Hopefully copyright will allow it to be transformed into an ebook for future readers.

[George Prew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best books I have ever read - A forerunner to the magic of Diana Wynne Jones, Philip Pullman, and Susanna Clarke, in this book Gray weaves together the most beautiful and delightful world of magic, populated by some of the most delightful characters available to fantasy fiction. It's a shame I didn't read it as a child, but I am just as delighted to have read it as one of the first books of my 30s, and I feel I have gained just as much from it now as I would have then. Be good to yourself and read this book.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! I read it in my early teens and I'm 35 now and still reading it! My mother was the one who introduced it to me. In my opinion it is a fantastic read! Thank you Nicholas Stuart Gray for writing this fabulous story! I hope you can rest in peace knowing you have at least brought immense joy and love to Grimbold's Other World and fantasy to two people! I hope to introduce this story to my daughter as well one day.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really excellent book but sadly out of print. I had a copy but gave it away. Regretting it now that's I would like to read it to my daughter. Since the last time I purchased it the price seems to have shot up to around $60.

[Hermione Ireland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming but much younger than other favourites (Ursula le Guin in particular).

[Jemma Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really small book great for carrying around with chapters that feel like their own self contained stories

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved loved loved this book when i was a kid & years later managed to track down an ex-library hardcover copy. i reread it every few years. very original & wonderful. a gentle fairy tale.

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister recommended as one of the forgotten books that really deserve not to be forgotten. I completely agree. It was a clever story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Jacqueline Zirkzee]

Read this as a child, as 'Grimbolds geheimen', loved it so much, should read it again.

[Nahuatl P Vargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me gustó, recomiendo.

[Katarina Rautert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am Anfang langweilig aber dann wird es am Ende spanned. Aber auch etwas verwirrend wegen den vielen Namen

[Amy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Evelyn Süß · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das ist so ein wundervolles und fantastisches Buch. Ich hab es mit meinem Sohn gelesen und wir finden es beide richtig schön. Lesen lohnt sich.