The Wonderful Winter

by Marchette Gaylord Chute

After running away from home when his aunt wouldn't let him keep his new puppy, Robin finds himself with some Shakespearean actors, in this story set in sixteenth-century England.

Genres: History, Childrens

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 1954

Reviews

[Elijah! (Not all those who wander are lost) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

[Amy Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this more than once - what a fantasy - to run away from home and join Shakespeare's acting troupe?
And it's a great story, well told, unique - window into history and also a good coming-of-age story.
Really should be a classic.

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre fiction by a not so mediocre Shakespeare scholar - this was a fun way to get inside Shakespeare's time period with the kids, and the author gets a lot of real people and historical details comfortably tucked into the tale.

The plot itself is sub-believably convenient, and clearly arranged for the advantage of the youthful protagonist (I think he's fictional). What redeems the writing is the author's sense of humor that pops up in just about every scene and makes it that much more human and appealing.

The afterword about the real characters and Shakespeare is of course, much more interesting for having taken this imaginary journey with them, despite it having the literary quality of a Boxcar children book. The children adored it.

One thing that was touching in the story (ok, spoiler here) is how he starts as the typical brow-beaten orphan with dour aristocratic relations, and returns from his journey with a manly sense that instead of being intimidated by his severe old aunts he can assert himself as the man of the house and start caring for them. The fact that this transformation occurs in about 6 months is again, a little pat, but it was rather lovely to see that turn-about, instead of just the typical escape motif. It reminds me a bit of the relational turn-around in Understood Betsy, but more lighthearted.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great story, fairly unrealistic in that the runaway protagonist, young Sir Robert Wakefield, mostly meet up with kind and helpful people as he spends the winter on his own in London. And he gets to act and live with Shakespeare's company of actors in the first production of Romeo and Juliet!

[Tammie Groeneman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dumb looking cover but excellent book. I enjoyed this so much. I love the author. She is very knowledgeable on Shakespeare and the story line shows that without it sounding like a textbook.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, sweet book. Historical fiction about the time of Shakespeare. Makes me want to read more about the life of Shakespeare and those in this story. Read as a homeschool preread.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a read aloud to my 10 year old. She really enjoyed it. It was longer chapters than I'd like for a read aloud, but I got sucked into the story too. Don't think the return home at the end of the book would have gone anything like it did, but it's a kid's book. Doesn't hurt to talk about the seriousness of running away which means you don't get to do fun things like act in a theater all winter instead of a more likely outcome as end up murdered by whoever finds you. Loved the Heminges and what such a example of loving kindness and caring for others in need.

[Redlanternlady · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids enjoyed this inside look at life within Shakespeare's plays and theatre acting in his day.