Augustine Came to Kent

by Barbara Willard, Mary Beth Owens (Illustrator)

It is the year 597 and Pope Gregory is sending a select number of his monks, led by Fr. Augustine, to re-evangelize England. Young Wolf, born in that land but raised in Rome, accompanies his father, Wolfstan, who goes as a guide and interpreter. Though the King of Kent's wife is a Christian, the missionaries from Rome do not know whether they will be welcomed, tolerated or martyred. In a story full of adventure, Wolf meets Fritha, a Saxon girl whose life and destiny are soon closely bound up with his own. Events, significant in the history of Christianity, are vividly brought to life by this veteran writer of historical fiction.

Britain, 597 A.D.
RL5
Of read-aloud interest ages 9-up

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, School, Childrens, Christian, Medieval, Read For School

179 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Barbara Mary Willard was a British novelist best known for children's historical fiction. Her "Mantlemass Chronicles" is a family saga set in 15th to 17th-century England. For one chronicle, The Iron Lily (1973), she won the annual Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, a book award judged by panel of British children's writers.
Willard was born in Brighton, Sussex on 12 March 1909, the daughter of the Shakespearean actor Edmund Willard and Mabel Theresa Tebbs. She was also the great-niece of Victorian-era actor Edward Smith Willard. The young Willard was educated at a convent school in Southampton.
Because of her family connections, Willard originally went on the stage as an actress and also worked as a playreader, but she was unsuccessful and abandoned acting in her early twenties. She wrote numerous books for adults before she turned to children's literature.
Very little about the author was written during her lifetime, because of her private nature. She died at a nursing home in Wivelsfield Green, East Sussex, on 18 February 1994.
The Grove of Green Holly (1967), which was a story about a group of 17th century travelling players who were hiding in a forest in Sussex from Oliver Cromwell's soldiers, spawned her most famous work, the Mantlemass series (1970–1981) including her Guardian Prize-winning book. Some other books were Hetty (1956), Storm from the West (1963), Three and One to Carry (1964), and Charity at Home (1965).
One of her last books, The Forest - Ashdown in East Sussex, published by Sweethaws Press in 1989, gives a detailed account of Ashdown Forest. In the introduction to the book, Christopher Milne notes that Willard had moved from her home on the Sussex Downs to the edge of Ashdown Forest in 1956 and that her new surroundings had provided the inspiration and setting for ten of her children's historical novels (eight in the Mantlemass series and two others). It is evident by her own account in her book that she actively involved herself in the affairs of the forest. She was a representative of the forest Commoners elected to the forest's Board of Conservators in 1975, and she remained in that capacity for ten years. She tells how she was later heavily involved in the fundraising campaign which enabled East Sussex County Council to purchase the forest in 1988, enabling it to remain as a place of beauty and tranquility open to the public.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sorry to see so many bad reviews of this book - it's really a lovely story of the re-Christianizing of England after the reign of the Romans has long since been over (c. 597).

Wolf, an English boy born and bred, travels with his father from their home in Rome, Italy along with a convoy of monks and the great Prior Augustine to spread the good news of salvation to Wolf's own long-begotten homeland (where his family were taken from as captives years ago).. New adventures await him and his father - new dangers; and new friends to make. A sweet childhood friendship blooms into love; forgiveness and a new way of life are found. Such a good story of the time period, and I did not find it dull or boring - just simple and pleasant.

This would make a nice supplement for using in school, but there is enough information within the book that if you know nothing of this era it won't deter away from enjoying the story. :)

[Elevetha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this for school and hated it. It was boring beyond all belief. The characters were horrible. I could not have cared less if Wolf and his crush died. Half, or more, of the book seemed to consist of Wolf mooning over Fritha. Augustine comes to Kent and that is basically his only role in this book. There is certainly nothing bad in this book; unless you count horrible characters and writing. Blah. Never again.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous Christian/Catholic book I would recommend to ages 9+, with minor violence and minor romance. It's a positive book, but really draws you in! It's also educationally worth the read.

Positive messages: Christianity, loyalty, love, faith
Positive role models: St. Augustine of Canterbury, a holy queen, a hardworking farmer who leaves his farm to follow St. Augustine, a hardworking boy
Educational value: It's set in Medieval Times and fairly accurate with St. Augustine of Canterbury's mission to England.

[Pedro · Rating 1 out of 5]

no one should have to read this book (unless it is for school) oh and
Elevetha Houre you are absolutely right

[Christina Pilkington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wolf, a young boy raised in Rome, accompanies his father back to their homeland of Britain along with Fr. Augustine in order to re-evangalize Britain. We follow the work of these early missionaries in the 4th Century A.D. and look at how St. Augustine influenced the growth of the Christian church.

While the audience of this book is middle grade readers, the language is very sophisticated at times, and more reluctant readers may have a harder time reading this story on their own.

I do think it's a worthwhile read, though, especially if you are learning about the early Middle Ages and how the pagan beliefs of the Saxons gradually became mostly replaced by Christianity due in large part through the efforts of Pope Gregory, Abbot/Archbishop of Canterbury Augustine and the baptism and conversion of the Saxon King Ethelbert.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read all of Rosemary Sutcliff's The Eagle of the Ninth series, but I'm pretty sure this book addresses aspects of early British history that she doesn't cover in that series. The first three books of that series give a good background for understanding something about the Roman occupation of Britain. ETA: I now see that Sutcliff has another separate book Dawn Wind that covers this (I even own it....).

Willard's book has exiled Britons in Rome traveling back to Britain as part of a papal mission to spread Christianity. There is plenty of action and drama, and we get some glimpses into what different participants might have thought about the great changes that were occurring.

[Michelle Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable and well written middle grade historical fiction. We enjoyed it as a family read. It was fun to learn more about St. Augustine of Canterbury and the growth of Christianity in England.

[The F · Rating 1 out of 5]

These young kid historical novels are unbelievably bad. There are entire chapters that add absolutely nothing to the book, lame characters, and no movement. There's a chapter called "Strangers from the Wilderness" or something. After 12 pages of nothing, the strangers come and- Surprise!- they're not really strangers! Thanks for lasting 12 pages i'll never get back!

Don't read unless you hate life.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy who was captured and sold into slavery in Rome is freed and sent back on a mission with (now saint) Augustine. He falls in love and travels with his father, who finds his old tribe and brings about the beginning of their conversion. The story of Saint Augustine himself is tangential to the story of Wolf, but students will learn about him and about England during this time period.

[Caitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book is really boring

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

NEVER AGAIN. Terribly boring. Not very good writing or characters. Frankly, I don't know if I ever want to read another Barbara Willard book again.

[Ursula · Rating 3 out of 5]

10YO wanted to give it 3.5 stars :)

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much I bought it after the first reading and read it again. Well-done historical fiction of Augustine's establishment of Canterbury. Well-written and not written down to children, which might be the reason so many found it "boring." It does require some education to understand it--a beautiful story, but there are some tough subjects (people die frequently in the Middle Ages) which makes it more a more typical read for teens than most younger ones. I read it aloud to my 9 and 12-year old and they both enjoyed it.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book beacause it was a really fun way to learn about history. When I first read the title I was said, " Do I have to read this?'' But after finishing the book I am glad I read it. It had a bit of romance, a bit of daring adventure, and a moral. I would definitely recommend this book to people looking for a fun history book!
Naomi Cuthbertson

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Characters were not engaging and the writing was lifeless. Had I remembered that this author also wrote Son of Charlemagne (which I read in my early teens and still remember how much I disliked it) I would have skipped this one as a read aloud for church history. Augustine is barely mentioned, and the whole plot felt forced. My 9 year old seemed to enjoy it more the nearer we got towards the end.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set at the time Pope Gregory I sent Augustine to England, Augustine Came to Kent is the story of the first Archbishop of Canterbury through the eyes of a boy. It tells of Augustine preaching, baptizing King Ethelbert, and on through the end of Augustine’s life. It’s a gentle story with excellent pacing. I recommend it for kids studying medieval England.

[Kimberly]

I read this to my three as part of our history. It was helpful for making a certain time period come to life as well as learn about Augustine and the re-Christianization of Britain. Overall, a sweet story with realistic characters.

[Eden Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm writing a review for this book even though I never finished it. This book isn't good. The plot is really slow and there's basically no action. The characters are boring. I don't recommend this book to anyone, especially to people who like action filled books.

[Kiki B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a school assignment, and I actually really enjoyed it! Although I would probably never buy or read this in my free time, I think it was pretty decent! If you really want a book to read and you can't find any other good books, I think this one is great, especially for school!

[Emily M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better as a historical fiction story giving a glimpse into early British history than as a work of literature. Read aloud for Middle Ages history cycle. Some of the kids liked it better than others. Good enough to read again next time we do MA.

[Leila Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, but it was little low on action. However, it's pretty good for learning about Augustine of Canterbury and the re-christianization of England. I don't know of any other book for kids on this topic.

[Katey Magill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to find children's books that take place in this kind of time and setting; as a Protestant, I might have wished things were presented a little differently, but nothing major

[Vendea]

I just remember HATING this book as a kid. Not entirely sure why.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Liked how he got married to Fritha

[Child960801 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a young boy and his father travelling to England with Augustine on the mission to bring Christianity to the island about 600 ad.

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to read aloud with my daughters for our history this year: Romans, Reformers and Revolutionaries! :)

[Theoni Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this as historical fiction. It’s great for kids. Shows the struggle to convert the island using some huge men in Catholic history. There are some influential women too.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mater Amabilis History Level 2 Year 1

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't love. Not using for MS class.

[Brittany]

Read aloud with the kids as we studied medieval history. Not the most thrilling of historical fiction, but a good introduction to a time and place in history. The kids enjoyed it.