A Whiff of Burnt Boats

by Geoffrey Trease

A Whiff of Burnt Boats

Genres: Biography

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Robert Geoffrey Trease (1909-1998) was a prolific writer, publishing 113 books between 1934 (Bows Against the Barons) and 1997 (Cloak for a Spy). His work has been translated into 20 languages. His grandfather was a historian, and was one of the main influences towards Trease's work.

He is best known for writing children's historical novels, whose content reflects his insistence on historically correct backgrounds, which he meticulously researched. However, with his ground-breaking study Tales Out of School (1949), he was also a pioneer of the idea that children's literature should be a serious subject for study and debate. When he began his career, his radical viewpoint was a change from the conventional and often jingoistic tone of most children's literature of the time, and he was one of the first authors who deliberately set out to appeal to both boys and girls and to feature strong leading characters of both sexes.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the autobiography of one of my favourite writers of children's historical fiction. This book covers Geoffrey Trease's childhood, student years, his communist sympathies (before disillusion set in) and time as a young writer struggling to make ends meet. It ends with the outbreak of war in 1939, when Trease is 30. Readable, though not a book I would bother to re-read.

[Lady_bercilak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting memoir of how a well-loved author began his career. I would have enjoyed a little more about the books, and perhaps less reticence over famous names.