Mortimer's Cross

Arabel and Mortimer #7-9

by Joan Aiken

Three further adventures of Arabel and her pet raven, Mortimer, include "The Mystery of Mr. Jones's Disappearing Taxi," "Mortimer's cross," and "Mortimer's Portrait on Glass."

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Juvenile, Middle Grade, Short Stories

152 pages, Unbound

First published January 1, 1983

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

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A third collection of short stories featuring young Arabel Jones and her beloved raven, Mortimer. In The Mystery of Mr. Jones's Disappearing Taxi, Arabel and Mortimer confront a thief who's been stealing library books. In Mortimer's Cross, Arabel's horrid great-aunt Olwen comes to visit, with disastrous results for our favorite raven. And in Mortimer's Portrait in Glass, a family trip to Ireland brings the usual mad-cap adventures...

These stories, illustrated by Quentin Blake, are ideal for the younger, beginning chapter-book reader who is not yet ready for Aiken's longer fiction. Full of that unique sense of humor that so distinguishes Aiken's work, the stories will be sure to please fans of Arabel and her raven companion, Mortimer. Please note: while available as a collection, these stories are also available individually in the UK.

[Kricket · Rating 5 out of 5]

In which:
-Mortimer befriends a group of bats and helps foil a kidnapping
-Mortimer receives a bath and is mailed to Wales
-Mortimer destroys a factory showroom of glass and meets a dinosaur

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Mystery of Mr. Jones s Disappearing Taxi" and "Mortimer s Cross" were easily brilliant 5-star stories. Even though Mortimer has a very limited vocabulary, he seems to be able to communicate his feelings, at least to Arabel. Anyone who has heard a raven, can imagine what he sounds like and the reader, Judy Bennett, conveys his "AAaawk," "muttermutter," and "Nevermore" pretty well.

I think I would give "Mortimer's Portrait on Glass" a slim 3 stars. The other two stories were a little crazy but they were about things that could conceivably happen; real life with a twist. "Mortimer's Portrait on Glass" was more like not-very-good science fiction and Mortimer didn't play as big a role.

Judy Bennett, is a fabulous narrator for these stories and does the accents really well. I am only sorry that I can't seem to find audio of the other stories in the Arabel and Mortimer series read by her.

[William Leight · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Mortimer’s Cross” consists of three more of the delightful and often hilarious adventures of Arabel, a quiet and obedient six-year-old, and Mortimer, her pet raven/force of nature. Impulsive, determined, cheerfully amoral, and possessed of an appetite both catholic and gargantuan, Mortimer naturally drives the action, but it’s his close connection to Arabel that makes these stories more than just great slapstick. The first follows the classic template from the previous two books, with Mortimer’s curiosity, fearlessness, and lack of scruples helping him to solve a mystery and round up some bad guys. In the second story, Mortimer meets his match for once, in the form of Arabel’s great-aunt. The last story is a real departure, though, as it barely features any conflict at all, and ends on a surprisingly elegiac note. I’m not sure if it’s an improvement, but it’s nice to see Aiken stretching the formula a bit.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Arabel and Mortimer #8: Mortimer's Cross:

A lively middle-grade adventure, Dahl-like in tone but with a more adult vocabulary suggestive of Mortimer’s origins (being read aloud on Jackanory). Bennett’s enthusiastically British- and Welsh-accented audiobook narration does capture the spirit, but it’s a shame to forego Quentin Blake’s illustrations.

[Ari R · Rating 4 out of 5]

really funny. i liked when arabels aunt gave mortimer a bath

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mortimer the Nevermore-chanting raven is up to something, as usual...and his owner Arabel Jones is lured into all sorts of trouble trying to sort it out.

Clever, charming, and funny; this third collection of Arabel & Mortimer stories was a very quick read. Contained "The Mystery of Mr. Jones' Disappearing Taxi," "Mortimer's Cross," and "Mortimer's Portrait on Glass."

The incongruities and misunderstandings get a little more large-scale and fanciful in this collection, from Arabel accidentally rescuing a pop star from a band of international thieves to a huge iceberg breaking up to reveal a live dinosaur that promptly sinks in an Irish bog. I didn't give this five stars because there seemed a little less Mortimer-at-the-center-of-the-trouble--indeed, less Mortimer altogether. Plus, Mortimer's unhappiness after his bath in "Mortimer's Cross" made me sad.

Only one more set of Arabel & Mortimer tales to go in Mortimer Says Nothing to finish off these delightful children's stories; hope they end with a bang!

[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.

[Annarino K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was our first Joan Aiken experience and my six year old daughter quickly warmed to sweet little Arabel and her wacky pet raven, Mortimer, whose vocabulary consists of "Kaark!" and "Nevermore!" The dialogue is very British and slightly challenging at times for speakers of General American English; however it is well worth the exercise.

[Anthony Faber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arabel & Mortimer #3. Three more stories about a little girl and her badly behaved raven. They get into all sorts of fixes, but end up on top, often catching robbers and stuff. A lot like Roald Dahl's children's books.

[MB (What she read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read. I love these books! They make me happy.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zany English humor for children, surprisingly relaxing!

[Gabriela · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Sadie]

book 3 of 5 in joan aiken's arabel + mortimer series

[Jenine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that cranky raven. My kids do too. I recommend the Mortimer books to all humans, whether saddled with offspring or not.

[Lorraine Der]

Library Catalog

[Partridge Public]

Aiken, Joan