I have just re-read No Boats On Bannermere, the first of a series of five books by Geoffrey Trease. Some may remember this author for his historical fiction but these books are set in the fifties (when they were written) and I've got all five as republished by Girls Gone By with the original text.
The book is about a brother and sister moving to the Lake District with their divorced mother (very reactionary for the time) where they settle in and make friends with another boy and girl. The stories aren't "full-on" adventures like Enid's books but more like school stories with a bit of adventure thrown in. The other books in order are Under Black Banner, Black Banner Players, Black Banner Abroad and The Gates Of Bannerdale.
The cover of The Gates Of Bannerdale reminds me of the dust jacket for Enid's The Four Cousins which was drawn by Joan Thompson. Both depict a station platform with people waiting to depart.
The stories may be gentler than Enid's exciting adventures but I would still recommend them as the series follows the four children as they grow up amidst the hills and the lakes.
Geoffrey Trease - The Bannermere Books
- John Pickup
- Posts: 4876
- Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
- Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
- Favourite character: Snubby
- Location: Notts
Geoffrey Trease - The Bannermere Books
Society Member
Re: Geoffrey Trease-The Bannermere Books
I've never understood why a publisher would choose this as a name. Who are the girls, where did they come from and where did they go?as republished by Girls Gone By
Society Member
Re: Geoffrey Trease-The Bannermere Books
The girls are the ones who used to read the books, they came from (ahem!) under the gooseberry bush , and unlike Peter Pan, they grew older.Moonraker wrote:I've never understood why a publisher would choose this as a name. Who are the girls, where did they come from and where did they go?as republished by Girls Gone By
At least, that's how I've always understood it. It doesn't seem a very logical name, now you mention it. they definitely tend towards the girls' side of literature, though - the school books are only girls' schools, the adventure books are either girl-centric (eg. Monica Edwards) or 50-50 (eg. Geoffrey Trease, Malcolm Saville).
DSR
Re: Geoffrey Trease-The Bannermere Books
Thanks dsr. I was wondering as I am re-reading the Lone Pine Club books, and they seem suitable for either gender.
Society Member
- Aurélien
- Posts: 3205
- Joined: 21 Oct 2008, 22:10
- Favourite book/series: Book: The Boy Next Door / Series: Famous Five
- Favourite character: Noddy
- Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Re: Geoffrey Trease-The Bannermere Books
Like Enid Blyton, Geoffrey Trease was adept at crafting worlds that readers feel that they could step into.
'Aurélien Arkadiusz'
'Aurélien Arkadiusz'
- Eddie Muir
- Posts: 14566
- Joined: 13 Oct 2007, 22:28
- Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers and Dog
- Favourite character: Fatty
- Location: Brighton
Re: Geoffrey Trease - The Bannermere Books
I must keep a lookout for some of his books, Aurélien.
I read his superb study, D.H. Lawrence, The Phoenix and the Flame, some years ago. It was written for young people and published by Macmillan in 1973 and is an excellent introduction to a great writer.
I read his superb study, D.H. Lawrence, The Phoenix and the Flame, some years ago. It was written for young people and published by Macmillan in 1973 and is an excellent introduction to a great writer.
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.
Society Member
Society Member