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Linnets and Valerians (1964)

by Elizabeth Goudge

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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5952239,497 (4.14)53
Left in the care of their strict grandmother, the four Linnet children find a much happier home with their Uncle Ambrose, his one-legged gardener, and the people of a small English village, where they help explain an old mystery and restore the joy of new friends.
  1. 30
    The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall (brynnlune)
  2. 00
    Down in the Cellar by Nicholas Stuart Gray (bmlg)
    bmlg: English country setting, the threat of witchcraft, rambunctious children and themes of family, loss and reunion
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» See also 53 mentions

English (21)  German (1)  All languages (22)
Showing 1-5 of 21 (next | show all)
When the four orphaned Linnet children are sent to live with their strict grandmother, they decide at once their new life is unbearable and they run away. Making their way through the English countryside, the encounter a host of unforgettable characters and begin their search for the missing Valerians. Will they be thwarted by the witch Emma Cobley and her magic cat?
  PlumfieldCH | Dec 10, 2023 |
A wistful, nostalgic fairytale. I loved the children and their uncle. Was not so fond of the final chapters. As wonderful as that might be, childhood is not immune from tragedy, sorrow, or the unknown. It should be a time when resilience, hope, and faith for the future overcome whatever hard times may come. ( )
  OutOfTheBestBooks | Sep 24, 2021 |
A sweet tale - not saccharine, just sweet. It has very much the same flavor (with entirely different ingredients) as The Little White Horse. Four children and a dog, in early 1900s England...except magic, on several levels. Animals that are a lot more than animals, for one thing - and evil spells, and good spells, and other powers. Lost and separated people, that come back together - and a happy ending. Pleasant read...except I kept thinking I had read it before (I hadn't, I didn't know any details, but the style was so familiar...). ( )
  jjmcgaffey | Aug 4, 2021 |
A peculiar but rather lovely book in the vein of Edith Nesbit or Diana Wynne Jones. The plot is not strong but it doesn't need to be - the point of this book is its atmosphere and spiritual truth. ( )
  wallymeadows | Feb 18, 2021 |
#5 A children's classic: I really enjoy Elizabeth Goudge's writing style. And the characters were well drawn. I was not completely comfortable with the magical elements, especially the voodoo-type parts. So if I were to recommend it, it would be with reservations. I do look forward to reading more of her adult works, though.
  vikinga | Jul 31, 2019 |
Showing 1-5 of 21 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (3 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Elizabeth Goudgeprimary authorall editionscalculated
Gilbert, YvonneCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Reuter, Sarah L.Introductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ribbons, IanIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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"Robert gave the box-room door a resounding kick, merely for his own satisfaction, for he knew that only the kick of a giant would have made any impression on its strong oak panels, and sat down cross-legged on the floor to consider the situation."
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
'Linnets and Valerians' was also published under the title 'The Runaways'
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Left in the care of their strict grandmother, the four Linnet children find a much happier home with their Uncle Ambrose, his one-legged gardener, and the people of a small English village, where they help explain an old mystery and restore the joy of new friends.

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Book description
The four Linnet children: Nan, Robert, Timothy and Betsy are sent to live with their strict grandmother while their father travels to Egypt. Locked away in separate rooms as punishment by their ruthless grandmother, the Linnets feel at once that their new life is unbearable—and decide to make their escape—out of the house, out of the garden and into the village. Commandeering a pony and trap, the children and their dog are led away as the pony makes his way nonchalantly home. The pony’s destination happens to be a house that belongs to their gruff but loveable uncle Ambrose. The kindly uncle Ambrose agrees to take them under his wing, he educates them and encourages them to explore Dartmoor, letting the children have free rein in his sprawling manor house and surrounding countryside.

Befriending the collection of house guests, including an owl, a giant cat, and a gardener, Ezra, who converses with bees, and getting to know the miscellaneous inhabitants of the village, the four siblings discover a life in which magic and reality are curiously intermingled and evil and tragedy lurk never far away. Then stumble upon the eccentric Lady Alicia Valerian, who seems to have lost her family. And then the real fun begins! The Linnets start their search for the missing Valerians. But the village is under a spell of the witch Emma Cobley. Can the children lift the spell and restore happiness to the villagers? Or will they be thwarted by evil Emma Cobley and her magic cat?

This charming story beautifully depicts early twentieth century English country life while conjuring an air of magical adventure. It is full of vivid characters, battles between good and evil and wonderful spell-binding moments.
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