Bagthorpes Besieged

The Bagthorpe Saga #9

by Helen Cresswell

The ninth story featuring the eccentric Bagthorpe family, who were the subject of a television serialization in the 1980s. Mr Bagthorpe is suspected of being a terrorist - and of murdering his wife, who has disappeared. The police and the press descend en masse, and the family is under siege.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens

Paperback

First published June 9, 1997

About the author

Helen Cresswell (1934–2005) was an English television scriptwriter and author of more than 100 children's books, best known for comedy and supernatural fiction. Her most popular book series, Lizzie Dripping and The Bagthorpe Saga, were also the basis for television series.

Reviews

[Ineka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read most of the Bagthorpes books as a kid. Reading the 9th book in the series as an adult, I've been struck by how much this family of eccentrics and the convoluted situations they find themselves in remind me of an earlier, English version of "Arrested Development"! Still thoroughly enjoyable books with biting black humour and sharp commentary on English concerns of the time. Published in 1996, Helen Cresswell takes particular aim at tabloid culture and the paparazzi this time around, as well as ingrained attitudes and assumptions about the working class and the Irish. Four year old Daisy continues her reign of terror with imaginary co-conspirator Arry Awk, Mrs Fosdyke becomes a media darling and Jack trails around after everyone trying to get back to some semblance of normality, not that any of the Bagthorpes know what that might look like...

[William Leight · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Bagthorpes Besieged”, the Bagthorpes go, as always, from bad to worse. Perhaps recognizing that the Bagthorpes themselves have gone beyond eccentric to unbelievable — the worst offender in this book is probably Daisy, who starts playing a game in which she locks people, or Billy Goat Gruff, behind any door she can get a key to, and then throws the key away — Cresswell spends more time with Mrs. Fosdyke and her ne’er-do-well son, Max, who appeared at the end of the previous volume. There are also some tabloid reporters for the family to torment, which makes a nice change from the usual policemen, and a hotel manager and receptionist who have to deal with a visit from Mr. Bagthorpe. The result is that the book tends to become the story of a number of people dealing with the natural disaster that is the Bagthorpe clan: still often very funny, but not as interesting as it once was.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ninth in the unlikely saga of a highly eccentric family. The entire book takes place over aboug 24 hours and is continued mayhem and humour. A little samey and predictable, but fairly enjoyable, and good to read aloud to children.

[MB (What she read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read 5/17/10.

I love, love, love the Bagthorpes!