Product Description

When Father goes away with two strangers one evening, the lives of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis are shattered. They and their mother have to move from their comfortable London home to go and live in a simple country cottage, where Mother writes books to make ends meet. However, they soon come to love the railway that runs near their cottage, and they make a habit of waving to the Old Gentleman who rides on it. They befriend the porter, Perks, and through him learn railway lore and much else. They have many adventures, and when they save a train from disaster, they are helped by the Old Gentleman to solve the mystery of their father's disappearance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1927 in Books
• Published on: 1993-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Customer Reviews

A classic writer's classic book
Before J.K.Rowling and Roald Dahl, there was E.E.Nesbitt; the most prolific and inventive children's author of all time, even if the inventor of Harry Potter may be close to usurping that title. Even though her books were written a century ago, such was the universal appeal of her themes and the ease with which children could identify with her characters that she has remained in print to this day and the stories are just as good now as they were then.

As with any children's classic - and "The Railway Children" is both a classic and most probably her best book - its appeal lies in a cracking plot, good character development and adult accessibility; parents are as keen to read as their children are to listen. The plot is simple: well-to-do-kids living ideal life in London suddenly have to "play at being poor" in the country after Daddy mysteriously disappears. After a series of adventures, all based around the railway that runs near their house, events coalesce into a satisfying finale.

The story centres on Roberta (Bobbie), the eldest daughter through whose eyes the story is narrated. She is one of my own favourite literature heroines and, as she suffers loss and hardship; and gains friendship and love, I would challenge even the most hard-boiled cynic not to shed the odd tear. The story is not, however, nearly as fluffy as all this may intimate. Like Rowling, Nesbitt loved to include magic and enchantment in her stories (it is, perhaps, ironic that her best tale contains none although it is certainly enchantING). Like Rowling, her stories also tend to have a dark side: many contain, and even hinge around, an absent, idealised father, reflecting the loss of the writer's own parent when she was just six. I've worn my way through two copies already!). Buy dozens! Spread them around your own children, their friends, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, neighbours ... any child who can manage joined-up writing will be enchanted by this story - and so will their parents

A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic!
This story is about some children who are shattered after the disappearance of their father but the railway line is always there to lift their sad spirits; so are the Old Gentleman and the porter, Perks. Nevertheless, how will they ever find out the reason of their dear father went missing?
I think that this book is a bit old fashioned but it is still very, very, very good; the author is the next (or actually the previous) Agatha Christy!
E Nesbit is the author of this book and many, many others. Some of the titles of her other works include: `The Amulet', `The Phoenix and the Carpet', and `The Five Children and It'

A true children's classic.
This book was first read to me about 18 years when I was at school. The school was next to a working steam railway. This was to have a wonderful affect on the reading of the story. I was totally draw into the story, it's higns and lows. I really liked the charcter Bobbie as I was a similar age. I felt Bobbie's charcter was growing up as I was and beginning to join (but not quite) the adult world. My eldest daughter is now of a similar age and I will be reading this and other children's classics to her. I have found the best thing about having children is I can read my favourites from childhood to them. The joy I get is finding they love books such as The Railway children as much as I do.