The House in Cornwall

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Moonraker
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The House in Cornwall

Post by Moonraker »

I have bought a copy of the above book, and it has a couple of anomalies. The summary, on the back cover, says "the children were [going on] a six week holiday with odd Uncle Quentin....even if Uncle Quentin was a crook...."
As readers of the book will know, the odd uncle is called Uncle Murdock.

Also, at the front of the book, it says, "Copyright © Enid Blyton.

It seems whoever was responsible for the blurb and acknowledgements page was a Blyton fan!
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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

It's an interesting and puzzling anomaly. Someone once mentioned that particular edition in a Journal article, but I've never seen it.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

I've googled this book and it said the author was Noel, somebody, can't remember the second name, is that the book?

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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Yes, it's by Noel Streatfeild.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Thanks, Anita. Before I see how much it is to buy, is it a good story - anyone who's read it?

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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I've read The House in Cornwall several times, Julie, as a child and as an adult. It's rather like The Secret of Spiggy Holes in some ways, but the style of writing is slightly more difficult and the atmosphere is colder and more menacing. It's somewhat far-fetched and the children don't seem as natural as Enid Blyton's child characters. To me it's quite an interesting story, but not as enjoyable or as well-paced as some of Noel Streatfeild's other books. My favourites of hers are Apple Bough, The Circus is Coming, Tennis Shoes and Ballet Shoes. I also like White Boots, the four Gemma books and the three volumes of Noel Streatfeild's autobiography (A Vicarage Family, etc.)
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Re: The House in Cornwall

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Julie2owlsdene wrote:Thanks, Anita. Before I see how much it is to buy, is it a good story - anyone who's read it?
You can have my copy when I've finished with it.

I am enjoying it, but agree with Anita, it is rather menacing and the children seem a bit odd. Also, where are their parents? I have scanned the beginning two or three times, but I can't find an explanation.

It would be nice, just for once, if a train journey to Cornwall from London could start at a terminus other than Paddington. Agatha Christie also always used Paddington in her books.
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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Courtenay »

I had a train journey to Cornwall from Reading last year, but it originated at Paddington... I think nearly all trains to Cornwall do, that's why.
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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Moonraker »

Yes, they do now, but not in the times that Christie and Blyton wrote. Trains from Waterloo (LSWR, then Southern Railway and latterly BR (Southern Region), ran many express trains to the Devon and Cornwall. One of the most famous was the Atlantic Coast Express which left Waterloo at 11am, with sections to Sidmouth, Ilfracombe, Padstow and other places. Padstow was the Cornish extremity of the Southern, the platforms still remain, but the rest of the station is a car park. Another short lived express was the all Pullman Devon Belle. This train was 'too important' to stop at Salisbury, and instead stopped at Wilton South, 3 miles west, to top up with water!

Sadly today, under the auspices of South West Trains, services from Waterloo only go as far as Exeter St Davids.
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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Moonraker wrote: You can have my copy when I've finished with it.
Thanks, Nigel, I'll just borrow it from you. By the sounds of the books it will probably be a bit hard going for me.

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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Moonraker »

For one who can't get into Malcolm Saville, they might well be.

I have finished the book now, and it was a bit strange at times. I was reading a sentence (this happened a few times) and none of it made sense. By re-reading it several times, it did become clearer. Maybe it was me, but it didn't flow like other stories I have enjoyed.

There are many questions to answer. The most obvious being, where were the children's parents?

It didn't feel like Cornwall, or England for that matter, where the children were. Maybe it was due to being in a house full of foreigners - probably eastern Europeans. In spite of Salisbury getting a mention, it was all rather alien to me.

The ending was wrapped up far too quickly - even by Enid's standards! I would have liked the night-time garden escapades shortened a bit, and the rescue and final part of the story lengthened. It had the feel of a 'Barney' mystery, possibly because of the foreign element.
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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I don't know why, but I didn't give a single thought to the whereabouts of the children's parents! It seems that the four siblings, when they're not at boarding-school, spend a lot of time with their aunt, uncle and cousin. With two of the children being called Wish and Sorrel, I wonder if their parents are rather bohemian and go off travelling a lot! As a child I borrowed The House in Cornwall from the library and I remember being intrigued at the idea of a girl being called Wish.

I agree that things are wrapped up too quickly at the end, Nigel. And I have to chuckle at the Salisbury reference:
"I'm makin' for Salisbury."

John was still feeling awful and that was the last blow; his face was white before, but now it grew whiter.
I've been to Salisbury several times, and it wasn't that bad! :wink:
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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Moonraker »

I never read it in that light, but can see how it made you chuckle! :D
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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Tony Summerfield »

Nigel brought the two pages that would make an editor's face go red round for me to scan, so here they are:-
Image
Image
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Re: The House in Cornwall

Post by Courtenay »

Oh dear, there they are indeed... :lol: :lol: :lol: Thanks for sharing, Nigel and Tony.
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