Spring Comes to World's End

World's End #4

by Monica Dickens

As their Uncle Rudolph threatens to deprive them of their beloved World's End, the Fielding children - Tom, Carrie, Em and Michael - try to earn the money to buy it themselves.

But money disappears as fast as it comes in, and it is not until the children are at the point of despair that their home is saved in a dramatic and exciting climax.

Read the adventures of the Fieldings. Also The House at World's End, Summer at World's End, World's End in Winter.

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Middle Grade

Paperback

First published May 13, 1973

About the author

From the publisher: MONICA DICKENS, born in 1915, was brought up in London and was the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens. Her mother's German origins and her Catholicism gave her the detached eye of an outsider; at St Paul's Girls' School she was under occupied and rebellious. After drama school she was a debutante before working as a cook. One Pair of Hands (1939), her first book, described life in the kitchens of Kensington. It was the first of a group of semi autobiographies of which Mariana (1940), technically a novel, was one. 'My aim is to entertain rather than instruct,' she wrote. 'I want readers to recognise life in my books.' In 1951 Monica Dickens married a US naval officer, Roy Stratton, moved to America and adopted two daughters. An extremely popular writer, she involved herself in, and wrote about, good causes such as the Samaritans. After her husband died she lived in a cottage in rural Berkshire, dying there in 1992.
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Reviews

[Michael Kavanagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

And they all lived happily .................. !
At least the ownership of World's End and presumed safety of all the animals there is decided in the concluding book of the short series. The baleful figures of Uncle Rudolph and Aunt Val will no longer bother the kids although even young readers probably realise that title passing to the feckless Fielding parents might not be for the best!
Enjoyed re-reading the books after nearly 50 years and was amazed that I still recalled so much from first reading - my own 'mind's eye' visions of characters and scenarios from that initial introduction to the bohemian freedom of World's End were very pleasantly re-kindled.

Definitely the books are still a good read for any animal-mad, outdoor-type book loving kids out there - if there any of those left!
The overall social scene presented in the books is a bit odd even for the original time setting and very dated nowadays of course, but the spare descriptions of places and snappy narrative do not tie the tales down too much. I think this broad-brush approach explains the popularity of the stories as the engaging tales gallop on with just enough detail to help the imagination fill in all the gaps as they see fit.

I am very glad to have renewed my acquaintance with some great reads from what I now recognise as a very happy and formative time for me - longing to join the kids and the menagerie at World's End!

[Juliann · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a fun and satisfying conclusion to the series and finally the adults aren't total morons.

[Rae-Ellen Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish there were more.

Monica Dickens obviously had a deep understanding of the inner world of young people. Her characters are well developed and empathetically written. I enjoyed all four of the World's End books so much I wish more had been written.

[Pauline Pedley · Rating 5 out of 5]

adult reading a kid’s book …

… no spoilers but it made me cry, lol.
You must read the whole series - this is the last of 4.
The author is Charles Dickens’ great granddaughter too so I knew they’d be good.
I can’t congratulate or thank her, unfortunately she passed on, but bless you Ms Dickens!

[K.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncle Rupert is determined to teach his feckless brother a lesson and sell World's End out from under the kids who unsuccessfully attempt to raise money to buy the farm from him. a kidnapping plot, and a timely rescue save the family from disaster