Violet Needham (1876–1967)
Author of The Black Riders
About the Author
Series
Works by Violet Needham
Associated Works
Every Girl's Annual 1952 — Contributor — 3 copies
Adventure Stories for Girls — Contributor — 3 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Needham, Amy Violet
- Birthdate
- 1876-06-05
- Date of death
- 1967-06-08
- Gender
- female
- Occupations
- children's book author
historical novelist
novelist - Short biography
- Violet Needham was born in London to a British army officer on the fringes of the aristocracy and his Dutch wife, a wealthy heiress. Violet's father, who taught his daughters to ride and drive horses and to love poetry, was a compulsive gambler, and his family veered between affluence and relative poverty depending on his luck. According to the Violet Needham Society, "Perhaps it is little wonder that so many of Violet’s young heroines are rescued from precarious financial situations." When she was 19, she accompanied her father on a six-year posting as a military attaché to Rome. She learned to speak French, German, and Italian. She created adventurous bedtime stories for her nephews, which she eventually wrote down and submitted for publication, without success. In 1939, when she was 63, her first book, The Black Riders, was finally published; for the next 18 years she published a new children's novel each year. They were enormously popular in her lifetime and still have a devoted following. Many of the books were illustrated by Joyce Bruce, a Gloucestershire neighbor.
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Mayfair, London, England, UK
- Places of residence
- London, England, UK
Windsor, England, UK
Rome, Italy
Tylehurst, Forest Row, Sussex, England, UK
Gloucestershire, England, UK - Place of death
- Horton, Gloucestershire, England, UK
- Burial location
- St. James the Elder's Churchyard, Horton, Gloucestershire, England, UK
- Associated Place (for map)
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
Richard Otho Fauconbois, better known as Dick or Dickie (or as the Stormy Petrel to his adversaries), returns in this follow-up to his initial adventure, chronicled by Violet Needham in The Black Riders, her marvelous 1939 debut. No longer pitted against the authorities because of his membership in the Confederation—an underground political movement within the Empire led by his friend Far Away Moses (AKA Count St. Sylvain)—Dick is now fourteen, and friends with his former captor, Count show more Jasper. It is he who enlists our hero's aid in helping the new young emperor, Carol. Raised in isolation and much neglected, Carol is shy and uncertain, but with the help of Dick and young Christopher Sallin—the abused son of a brilliant but harsh man—he slowly begins to come out of his shell. Dick, in the meantime, finds himself caught up in adventure again, as plots against Carol's life (and his own) abound, directed by none other than Professor Sallin , at the behest of the emperor's cousin. While the Stormy Petrel manages to make great contributions to the effort to protect the emperor he now serves, he faces an unexpected loss when Christopher , whom he had taken under his wing, is tragically lost...
Originally published in 1942, and then republished by Girls Gone By Publishers in 2006, The Stormy Petrel is actually the third in Needham's series, following upon The Black Riders and The Emerald Crown. The latter was published in 1940, and takes place in the neighboring kingdom of Flavonia. Although the characters of that book don't appear directly in this one, which builds upon the events of the first title, they are a part of the story here, and episodes involving them take place "off screen" (so to speak), and are referenced or retold by Dick and some of the people around him. It's clear that the series, going forward—sometimes known as Stormy Petrel and sometimes as The Empire, it has seven volumes—involves events in both countries. In any case, leaving all that aside, I found this one immensely involving, and a great pleasure to read, despite one or two flies in the ointment (more on that anon). Dick is, as ever, a marvelous hero, and one really enters into his feelings on events around him, and roots for him throughout his adventures. The story is exciting, and although the villain is revealed fairly early on, there is still a great deal of suspense. The ending was truly heartbreaking, and I was rather impressed that the author decided to kill off the character she did.
All of this being said, despite my great enjoyment of this one—which I think I would have adored as a child, along with its predecessors—I was rather repulsed by two elements of the story. The first being the depiction of the Jewish merchant, Simeon, who is shown in a most unflattering light, and who ends up beingone of the conspirators . I don't know that Needham goes as far as some other authors of the period, in openly stating that his unattractive qualities are owing to his background—thinking here of things like Georgette Heyer's description of Mr. Goldhanger in her novel, The Grand Sophy, where she writes of "the instinct of his race"—but I feel it is implied that they are not unrelated. The second element I found distasteful was the treatment of Christopher's death at the end, which is viewed by the characters as some kind of merciful release—even ordained by God!—because of the shame the victim would have had to live with, had he survived. It's possible that this reflects the author's actual worldview, or the worldview of many in times past (or even present), when death was seen as preferable to certain kinds of social disgrace. While I wouldn't agree with this worldview, I can at least understand it, on a social / cultural level. But that such a view would be approved by heaven (and by the friendly priest, Father Hilary) seems a wild stretch. I am no theologian, but the idea that God would think the death of a totally innocent person was the best option, because a relative of that innocent had committed a misdeed, seems entirely out of keeping with any Christian tradition, regardless of denomination. If it is the best option socially, then that is a condemnation of society, but has nothing at all to do with the divine.
Despite the forgoing criticism, I did enjoy this one immensely, and look forward to reading the rest of the series, as well as other books by Needham, who entire oeuvre I now own. Recommended to readers who have read and enjoyed The Black Riders, and, to a lesser extent, The Emerald Crown. show less
Originally published in 1942, and then republished by Girls Gone By Publishers in 2006, The Stormy Petrel is actually the third in Needham's series, following upon The Black Riders and The Emerald Crown. The latter was published in 1940, and takes place in the neighboring kingdom of Flavonia. Although the characters of that book don't appear directly in this one, which builds upon the events of the first title, they are a part of the story here, and episodes involving them take place "off screen" (so to speak), and are referenced or retold by Dick and some of the people around him. It's clear that the series, going forward—sometimes known as Stormy Petrel and sometimes as The Empire, it has seven volumes—involves events in both countries. In any case, leaving all that aside, I found this one immensely involving, and a great pleasure to read, despite one or two flies in the ointment (more on that anon). Dick is, as ever, a marvelous hero, and one really enters into his feelings on events around him, and roots for him throughout his adventures. The story is exciting, and although the villain is revealed fairly early on, there is still a great deal of suspense. The ending was truly heartbreaking, and I was rather impressed that the author decided to kill off the character she did.
All of this being said, despite my great enjoyment of this one—which I think I would have adored as a child, along with its predecessors—I was rather repulsed by two elements of the story. The first being the depiction of the Jewish merchant, Simeon, who is shown in a most unflattering light, and who ends up being
Despite the forgoing criticism, I did enjoy this one immensely, and look forward to reading the rest of the series, as well as other books by Needham, who entire oeuvre I now own. Recommended to readers who have read and enjoyed The Black Riders, and, to a lesser extent, The Emerald Crown. show less
The young Countess Christine Trollac, known to all as Pixie, wasn't sure at first that she would take to the boy who was visiting her family's historic castle home of Trollsgarde one Christmas season, but she needn't have worried. Although raised in England, Alexander was fluent in Flavonian, and made a pleasant but by no means quiescent companion. Despite the differences in age—Alexander was fourteen, and some years older than Pixie—the two became good friends, and had many adventures show more together. It was in the course of those adventures that they discovered some startling facts about Alexander's true identity. But would he be willing to follow his "destined way?" And how could he do so, without first finding the Emerald Crown...?
Originally published in 1940, The Emerald Crown was the second in Violet Needham's Stormy Petrel series, in which young people have rousing adventures in a Ruritanian setting. The first book, The Black Riders was set in a fictional central European country known only as The Empire, and concerned the doings of one Dick Fauconbois; whereas this follow-up switches focus, moving to the kingdom of Flavonia, a small country on the border of the Empire. There are no shared characters between the two books, although I understand they come together in later installments of the series. In any case, this was an immensely engaging and entertaining follow-up to The Black Riders, which I greatly enjoyed, and which set a high bar. Needham has something of a cult following, and is considered the master of the Ruritanian romance for young readers. Reading these two books, it is not difficult to see why. I read the Girls Gone By reprint of this from 2005, and enjoyed the introduction by Hilary Clare, particularly the exploration of the significance of the Emerald Crown itself. I thought the parallels to Hungary's Crown of St. Stephen were fascinating, particularly as I had recently watched the second season of the television show Sisi, about the Austrian Empress Elisabeth, and there was an episode in which she and Count Andrássy recovered the lost crown. One of those happy cases of serendipity, in my reading and viewing life! In any case, I would strongly recommend this one to readers who enjoy Ruritanian tales. It is not necessary to have read The Black Riders first, I do not think, although one should read that earlier title before proceeding to the third in the series. show less
Originally published in 1940, The Emerald Crown was the second in Violet Needham's Stormy Petrel series, in which young people have rousing adventures in a Ruritanian setting. The first book, The Black Riders was set in a fictional central European country known only as The Empire, and concerned the doings of one Dick Fauconbois; whereas this follow-up switches focus, moving to the kingdom of Flavonia, a small country on the border of the Empire. There are no shared characters between the two books, although I understand they come together in later installments of the series. In any case, this was an immensely engaging and entertaining follow-up to The Black Riders, which I greatly enjoyed, and which set a high bar. Needham has something of a cult following, and is considered the master of the Ruritanian romance for young readers. Reading these two books, it is not difficult to see why. I read the Girls Gone By reprint of this from 2005, and enjoyed the introduction by Hilary Clare, particularly the exploration of the significance of the Emerald Crown itself. I thought the parallels to Hungary's Crown of St. Stephen were fascinating, particularly as I had recently watched the second season of the television show Sisi, about the Austrian Empress Elisabeth, and there was an episode in which she and Count Andrássy recovered the lost crown. One of those happy cases of serendipity, in my reading and viewing life! In any case, I would strongly recommend this one to readers who enjoy Ruritanian tales. It is not necessary to have read The Black Riders first, I do not think, although one should read that earlier title before proceeding to the third in the series. show less
Looking down from his cliffside house at the road and the river and the forest one day, eleven-year-old Dick—otherwise known as Richard Otho Fauconbois—sees the fabled Black Riders passing, and shortly thereafter, a man in a cart with a lame horse. Stopping the cart, he meets its owner, Far Away Moses—so named because when his enemies sought him, he was always far away—and becomes caught up in an adventure beyond his imagining. For this new friend and master is the leader of an show more underground political movement within the Empire—the Confederation—and is always on the move, always one step ahead of the police, and of Jasper the Terrible: Governor, leader of the Black Riders, and right-hand-man of the Emperor. Soon an errand boy for Far Away Moses, Dick undergoes many hair-raising adventures, and remains true to his chief and to his word, even when all seems lost, and both he and his leader are imprisoned. Have the adventures of the Stormy Petrel—Dick's nickname in certain circles—come to an end, or is there more yet to come...?
I have been aware of the work of British author Violet Needham for many years, but have only recently come into possession of her books, mostly in editions reprinted by the wonderful Girls Gone By Publisher. Said to be a master of the Ruritanian romance for younger readers, she is particularly known for The Black Riders, the first of the eight-book Stormy Petrel series, as well as such books as The Woods of Windri and its sequel (also Ruritanian tales), and a number of others. I found this one a marvelous introduction to her work, and mourn the fact that it is out of print, and mostly unavailable to today's young readers. A rousing adventure story, it is also beautifully written, and features a cast of wonderful characters. Faithful Dick—so true, so loyal, so moral—makes an outstanding young hero, and the people around him are always interesting. I appreciated the fact that, while there are clear factions here, and our hero cleaves strongly to his side, the opposition is not evil, and neither is their leader, in the form of Count Jasper. Indeed, while in some ways the story here is quite naive—the way in which Far Away Moses and Dick are treated, while in captivity, for instance, or the role of Jasper's young daughter Judith inwinning a last-minute pardon for Far Away Moses from the Emperor —in other ways, it is a very sophisticated book, addressing complex moral questions in an intelligent way, and never talking down to its young audience. This is apparent very early on, when Dick has just met Far Away Moses, and asks him whether Count Jasper is a bad man. Far Away responds by saying: "No, not bad; he is a great man and I ask for no better enemy." When he asks Dick if he understands, the boy nods and replies "I think so... You mean it isn't you and it isn't he that are fighting—it's your ideas." This is not an outlook one meets with much today, to our grave detriment, I fear!
As much as I mourn that this book is not currently in print, I also regret that it does not appear to have been published here in the states—our loss, I am sorry to say—and that I did not encounter it in childhood, as I suspect it would have been a favorite. In some ways, it reminded me of the Dutch childhood classic from Tonke Dragt, The Letter for the King, which also featured made-up kingdoms and a young boy flung headfirst into adventure as a messenger of sorts, although the hero there was somewhat older than here. In any case, I strongly recommend this one to young readers who enjoy that sort of adventure story, or intelligent, well-written and entertaining tales in general. show less
I have been aware of the work of British author Violet Needham for many years, but have only recently come into possession of her books, mostly in editions reprinted by the wonderful Girls Gone By Publisher. Said to be a master of the Ruritanian romance for younger readers, she is particularly known for The Black Riders, the first of the eight-book Stormy Petrel series, as well as such books as The Woods of Windri and its sequel (also Ruritanian tales), and a number of others. I found this one a marvelous introduction to her work, and mourn the fact that it is out of print, and mostly unavailable to today's young readers. A rousing adventure story, it is also beautifully written, and features a cast of wonderful characters. Faithful Dick—so true, so loyal, so moral—makes an outstanding young hero, and the people around him are always interesting. I appreciated the fact that, while there are clear factions here, and our hero cleaves strongly to his side, the opposition is not evil, and neither is their leader, in the form of Count Jasper. Indeed, while in some ways the story here is quite naive—the way in which Far Away Moses and Dick are treated, while in captivity, for instance, or the role of Jasper's young daughter Judith in
As much as I mourn that this book is not currently in print, I also regret that it does not appear to have been published here in the states—our loss, I am sorry to say—and that I did not encounter it in childhood, as I suspect it would have been a favorite. In some ways, it reminded me of the Dutch childhood classic from Tonke Dragt, The Letter for the King, which also featured made-up kingdoms and a young boy flung headfirst into adventure as a messenger of sorts, although the hero there was somewhat older than here. In any case, I strongly recommend this one to young readers who enjoy that sort of adventure story, or intelligent, well-written and entertaining tales in general. show less
For her second novel, Needham returned to the world of the Empire and Flavonia, and that stalwart of children’s literature – the long lost monarch plot. It’s another enjoyable romp of a story, with its youthful protagonists firmly in the driving seat no matter how much their deluded elders attempt to protect them.
Flavonia has been without its rightful king for nearly a hundred years. The current incumbent of the throne is a decadent and hated individual and, of course, the descendent show more of a usurper who overthrew the rightful king. The people of Flavonia writhe under the tyrant’s yoke and long for the day when the rumoured great grandson of the deposed king will return to take up his throne.
Meanwhile at Trollsgarde in the mountainous province of Trollac, which I always thought bore more than a passing resemblance to Transylvania, a little girl nicknamed Pixie prepares for an unwelcome Christmas visitor. She is the beloved daughter of the governor of the province, so no Cinderella she. The visitor she awaits is a boy named Alexander, who has been living in penury at Eton in England despite being a true Flavonian. She is not told who this boy is or why her father is apparently paying his school fees (scrub your minds out gentle readers) but is sufficiently sharp-eyed to notice his strong resemblance to a portrait of one of Flavonia’s kings – the rightful, good looking ones, not the mealy mouthed foxy-faced usurpers.
Great stuff. show less
Flavonia has been without its rightful king for nearly a hundred years. The current incumbent of the throne is a decadent and hated individual and, of course, the descendent show more of a usurper who overthrew the rightful king. The people of Flavonia writhe under the tyrant’s yoke and long for the day when the rumoured great grandson of the deposed king will return to take up his throne.
Meanwhile at Trollsgarde in the mountainous province of Trollac, which I always thought bore more than a passing resemblance to Transylvania, a little girl nicknamed Pixie prepares for an unwelcome Christmas visitor. She is the beloved daughter of the governor of the province, so no Cinderella she. The visitor she awaits is a boy named Alexander, who has been living in penury at Eton in England despite being a true Flavonian. She is not told who this boy is or why her father is apparently paying his school fees (scrub your minds out gentle readers) but is sufficiently sharp-eyed to notice his strong resemblance to a portrait of one of Flavonia’s kings – the rightful, good looking ones, not the mealy mouthed foxy-faced usurpers.
Great stuff. show less
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