The Bread Bin

Arabel and Mortimer #3

by Joan Aiken

Mortimer is determined to sleep in the bread bin. Mrs Jones is determined he won't! This story was originally published in the collection Tales of Arabel's Raven .

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Fantasy

79 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Joan Aiken was a much loved English writer who received the MBE for services to Children's Literature. She was known as a writer of wild fantasy, Gothic novels and short stories.

She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).

Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.

Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.

Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.

Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.

Reviews

[Kricket · Rating 5 out of 5]

In which a trip to the roller rink goes very, very awry.

[Carolien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mortimer the raven would like to sleep in the bread bin, but Arabel's mother objects to the plan. Arabel gets sick while Mortimer causes his normal havoc upon everyone. Love these stories of the friendship between Arabel and Mortimer.

[Christine Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I think kids would love to follow Mortimer on his roller skating adventures. They would also appreciate that Mortimer is essential to help Arabel get better.

[Ned Netherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't beat raven-based anarchy

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This another great series from my childhood. Joan Aiken combines thoughtful storytelling to a Roald Dahl-type comedic story. There never is really any theme expressed, other than that no one is smarter than this raven (who, consequently, never says more than one word throughout the series). Though simpler writing fits it for more of a younger teen audience, the series can still be appreciated for its witty slapstick humor.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 2 out of 5]

206 - 2012

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little story about a little girl's reciprocated love for her raven. Funny and touching at the same time.

[Lesley Kitchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mortimer is hilarious with his antics! Since buying these to give as a Christmas present I have grown to love Mortimer.