Can you identify a child's book for me?

[burlingtonbertram]

This is a bit of a long-shot because I) my memories of this book are hazy and 2) it may well describe the plot of several dozen kids books. Still, it is worth a shot...

There is a girl (not sure of her age) from somewhere in Eastern Europe, possibly Russia, and she is from the aristocracy. She may be a Princess but I aren't certain.

She is being held captive in a large house. I think it has its large grounds or a large garden. The kidnappers may be communists but I aren't certain of this.

There is something to do with illness; it may be that they claim she is ill. I think Typhoid was mentioned but, again, I can't be sure.

There is a gang of British children who help rescue her somehow.

I have no idea when it was published or set but I know that I read it in the late 70's or very early 80's in a paperback edition dating from about that time. If the kidnappers are communists that could suggest a 20's or 30's setting but I might be totally wrong on that point.

Over to you my learned friends...

[Fiona1986]

Sounds interesting! Hope someone recognises the plot.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Is it definitely a princess, and not a boy king? If the child could be a boy, you might be thinking of The House in Cornwall by Noel Streatfeild (1940). A boy king from an Eastern European country has been kidnapped and is being held in an ivy-covered building in the grounds of a large house. The plot involves a dictator, a mention of typhoid and a group of British children (John, Sorrel, Wish and Edward). There are some similarities to Enid Blyton's The Secret of Spiggy Holes.

[Julie2owlsdene]

It does sound very much like The House in Cornwall to me also, as Anita has suggested.

I have recently read this book and it sounds exactly as you can remember it burlingtonbertram

[burlingtonbertram]

You might have hit the nail on the head. The title still doesn't ring a bell but the name Noel Streatfeild does. The character's name Sorrel sounds sort of right too. Unless someone has any other suggestions this sounds like it could be the one. I will give it a week and then see if I can get a copy. Many thanks

[Anita Bensoussane]

I hope it's the one - or if it isn't, I hope someone comes up with the right one!

[John Pickup]

Julie let me borrow The House In Cornwall when we met back in July but I haven't started it yet.
It says on the back cover, "Funnily enough, when the train left Paddington bound for the west country, the children were just a little bit anxious. A six week holiday with odd Uncle Quentin didn't promise much fun....
Well, in a way Edward, Sorrell and Wish were right. And in a way they were wrong. Because even if Uncle Quentin was a crook; even if the house in Cornwall was spooky; even if a strange nurse in heavy boots tended a mysterious patient in the summer house and even if the children were virtually prisoners, that summer holiday was the most exciting ever.
Hope this clears it up for you, burlingtonbertram.

[Courtenay]

Oh yes, that's the infamous version of The House in Cornwall that the publisher somehow got crossed with Enid Blyton... in the blurb, it refers to the odd uncle as "Uncle Quentin" (his name is actually Murdock), and in the publisher's details it says "Copyright Enid Blyton"!! We had a discussion on it not long ago, here: http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/foru ... 59#p203832" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[John Pickup]

I remember that discussion now, Courtenay. It was shortly afterwards when Julie lent me the book. I'll have to read it now.

[Moonraker]

Julie let me borrow The House In Cornwall when we met back in July but I haven't started it yet.

Good to know the book that I lent Julie is doing the rounds!

[Julie2owlsdene]

I think you're getting confused, John. Nigel lent me the book and when we all met up, I gave it back to him. He then lent it to you!

So the book is Nigel's.

[Carlotta King]

I think that day was just a complete haze of heavy books to poor John - don't forget he had so many in his backpack that he couldn't walk and we were worried he'd tip the ferry up if we got on - it's no wonder that he forgot where some of them came from

[Moonraker]

It looks as if it might be burlingtonbertram's next!

[burlingtonbertram]

Oh yes, that's the infamous version of The House in Cornwall that the publisher somehow got crossed with Enid Blyton... in the blurb, it refers to the odd uncle as "Uncle Quentin" (his name is actually Murdock), and in the publisher's details it says "Copyright Enid Blyton"!! We had a discussion on it not long ago, here: http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/foru ... 59#p203832" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Blimey! That's a relief; I thought that Uncle Quentin was leading a double life.

[John Pickup]

I can't find it now!