Run Away Home

The Marlows #10

by Antonia Forest

Nicola Murray and her family decide to help a young boy return to his Swiss father, against his English mother's will, concocting a plan that leads them all into dangerous and anxious moments.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, School Stories

221 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Antonia Forest was the pen name of Patricia Giulia Caulfield Kate Rubinstein. She was born in North London, the child of Russian-Jewish and Irish parents. She studied at South Hampstead High School and University College, London, and worked as a government clerk and a librarian. Best known for her series of novels about the Marlow family, she published her first book, Autumn Term, in 1948.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tenth and final book in Antonia Forest's series about the Marlow family - a series that began with the school story Autumn Term , continued with the holiday adventure The Marlows and the Traitor , and alternated between the two genres from then on - Run Away Home picks up at the conclusion of the school term whose events are chronicled in the ninth entry in the collection, The Attic Term .

On their way home from Kingscote via train, Ann, Nicky and Lawrie (Ginty having gone to her friend Monica's house for the holidays) unexpectedly meet up with eldest brother Giles, on leave from his post in the Navy, and the siblings witness a dramatic incident involving a runaway boy. Arriving home, they discover that Mrs. Marlow must leave for Paris immediately, as their grandmother is very ill. With Captain Marlow on duty somewhere at sea, and Mrs. Marlow away, what sort of Christmas will it be for the Marlow siblings? As it turns out, their involvement with the runaway boy, Edward Oeschsli, who is determined to get home to his father in Switzerland, creates a holiday none will ever forget...

With the exception of Ginty and Captain Marlow, all the Marlows - including Rowan, Karen, and Karen's new family - appear in this final installment of the series, and I cannot deny that I had a nostalgic feeling, as I was reading it. Despite that fact, I was more than a little annoyed at a number of small incidents - Giles' commentary on one of his comrade's wife, and his determination not to marry a woman who didn't know her place (and was willing to stay home and care for the children without whining); the fact that Nicola and Patrick just pick up their friendship with no problems, after the way he practically dumped her to have a relationship with Ginty - which reaffirmed my belief that Forest was just a little too conservative, vis-a-vis gender issues, for my comfort.

This might have been a disappointing three-star title, in fact, had I not found the final sequence so utterly gripping, and were I not convinced, when reading, that Forest might actually sacrifice some of her beloved characters. That ambiguity kept me involved to the very end, and - after ten books! - was rather moving. I'm still mulling over my thoughts about the entire series, but there's no question that: a) it is well-written and very worth reading, and b) it ended on quite a dramatic note! Now, if only I could find the two books about the Marlows' Elizabethan ancestors...

[Josephine Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another of the almost-crime-caper genre of Marlow books. The plot involves the Marlow kids assisting in liberating a boy stranded in England to his father in Switzerland. The whole plot is somewhat unbelievable, especially that the two sensible Marlows, Giles and Rowan, would go along with it, although of course the convenient absence of both parents is needed for sense not to prevail. In any case, once you go along with what's happening you're in for a treat of a tautly plotted adventure story.

I enjoyed the changes in perspective between the various siblings as they played their parts in the caper. I enjoyed the lead up to the caper a little less, but as soon as the action gets going it's a wild and tense ride. I loved the scene where the siblings plot out the detail of their escapade to the nth degree.

Antonia Forest is just so good at writing understated dialogue which expresses character. Here's a little excerpt - where the siblings are discussing plans for Christmas Day:

"Let's give it a shake and do everything differently - "
"Like how?" said Nicola.
"Like every way we can think of. Presents after breakfast on Christmas Day and the Tree after tea. Christmas dinner midday-"
"Not possible," said Rowan. "We have it in the evening so that Mrs Bertie can spend all day with son and family."
"Fair enough. Then ask her to cook it on Christmas Eve - "
"Oh no, Giles! Not eat Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve!" protested Lawrie.
"Certainly not. Cooked Christmas Eve but eaten on Christmas Day on top of Rum Beacon."
"A deep, deep, snow picnic?" said Peter.
"I think that would be terrific," said Nicola.
"But suppose it rains?" said Ann.
"Then we drive down to Mulcross Bay and find a nice dry cave- "
"All the caves I've ever known," said Rowan, "have been cold and dank-"
"- taking a sack of firewood - "
"My word!" said Peter. "No-one could say the lad hasn't covered every contingency. It's positively computerised efficiency. Watch closely and you'll see the micros chipping. Yes, why not. Let's do."
"But we can't," said Ann.

Sadly, this is the last of the Marlows books, at least in this time period. We'll never know what became of all of those hyper talented kids when they grew up.

[Rosamund Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tenth, and final, in the series of Marlow stories, is a strange one. The Marlows discover a run-away boy, Edward, who is living in a children's home, and wants to return to his father in Switzerland. A complex plan and a dangerous journey ensue. My favourite parts of the book, however, were the times when Forest focuses on the Marlow children, and their friend, Patrick, and we're able to indulge in stories about the beautiful countryside in which they live, and their horses, rambles, and other small adventures. Forest can write a fast-paced plot, but I think her strength is actually in the development of child characters. This story, including the whole Marlow family but Ginty, gave her room for lots of conversations and family dynamics, but also raised questions, which, as this is the last book, you know will never be answered. The final third is focused on a sea voyage, and the fun of the beginning of the book is lost to intense sailing questions and fear of tragedy. I found myself wishing for a book more like Peter's Room, where we can indulge in family dynamics in comfort, without worrying about so much adventure.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember my excitement when this arrived in the library - up to this point I'd just had the first three school stories, and Falconer's Lure, so it was a big event. It turned out that this is a very dangerous book, because once you pick it up you cannot put it down. Even if I just pick it up to remind myself of the exact words of a particular phrase, or to re-read one particular scene, I end up sucked in and spending an hour or so perched uncomfortably on the bottom stair by the bookshelves, or even just standing on the landing, transfixed by the story. It is utterly gripping and although I must have read it 20 or 30 times it has always been in a single sitting.

[Thea Mussman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, as I love all the Marlow books. This one is fun because it features Giles and Peter. I didn’t miss Ginty, I think I found Ann as much of a sad sack as Nicola usually does.
The plot was so far-fetched, though. But still- reading a book from a series that I loved as a child and have never read before was wonderful.

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's interesting about this is the same thing that annoyed me; it's centred around the Marlows embarking on an adventure that I thought deeply stupid, from not only a safety angle but a moral one. Rather like in A Ready-Made Family, I appreciated the acknowledgement of that three-dimensional layer of problem, but at the same time wantedt examined a little further. The Marlows realise, or at least some of them do, that their actions can have large consequences, but then we turn to the business of getting them all safe home and sound, and we never discover the full ramifications.

[Emma Birrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child I came across the Marlow school story books, and fell in love with them. The characters were so real, and I read and re-read the 4 school books many times. Although I loved them, I always felt I was missing something - things seemed to take place in the holidays which were referred to as if I should know more about them. But no other books were available, so it remained a mystery.

Until I started to look back at books I enjoyed as a child for my own children and discovered to my joy that there are, in fact, 6 other Marlow books, covering all these holiday periods. Unfortunately, they were by this stage very rare and far more expensive to buy than I was willing to pay. Thankfully GGB have started another re-print and I've been able to fill the gaps. But this week, to my great good fortune, another Forest fan offered me the last in the series for a reasonable cost and I was able to finally read the last book in the series before Antonia Forest died, and find out for myself what happened.

Even as an adult, Antonia Forest does not disappoint. Her characters are real, and rounded. There are no "baddies" and "goodies". No one starts the book as a bad lot and is slowly turned around by her contact with our hero. Things are complicated and messy and her characters are not flawless. They make mistakes, they hurt people's feelings, they act selfishly. I read this through in almost one sitting. I only wish I could have done so as a child as it would have been even more special then. She examines real human emotions and the story, exciting though it is, is only a small part of why I loved her books so much then and still enjoy reading them now.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

võin nüüd rahus surra, sest olen läbi lugenud viimase Marlow'de sarja raamatu (nii selles mõttes, et viimane, mis kirjutatud, kui ka viimane, mis mul õnnestus hankida).

pere noorimad, kaksikud Nicola ja Lawrie, on siin 14 ja pool aastat vanad, mis tähendab, et enamus muud kampa (Giles, Karen, Rowan igal juhul) peaks olema juba üsna täiskasvanud. aga kui ema-isa kumbagi kodus pole, siis läheb veidi nagu ikka käest ära see asi ja kõik käituvad üsna lapsikult. osa sellest on muidugi väga nunnu, näiteks kuidas jõululõuna süüakse pikniku vormis mere ääres koopas, lihtsalt sellepärast, et milleks traditsioonid. aga põhiintriig - pooled Marlow'd osalemas skeemis, et üks õnnetu šveitsi laps üle mere koju tagasi smugeldada - on ikkagi veidi uskumatu. kuigi väga põnev.

tore on see, et siin raamatus ei ole üldse kohal Gintyt (kellest mul eelmises osas jõudis põhjalikult kõrini saada, vb autoril ka) ja see jällegi tagab, et Patrick ja Nicola saavad uuesti sõbrad olla. ja tore on 10 raamatu jooksul esimest korda päriselt kohtuda ja tutvuda vanima venna Gilesiga.

minu eriti värskel väljaandel on lisaks tavapärastele lisatausta jagavatele eessõnadele toodud ära ka mõned peatükid mustandeid. mida oli lugeda ühest küljest põnev, sest ikka ju huvitav näha, kuidas autori mõtted on aja jooksul arenenud ja muutunud; aga teisest küljest vb ma ei saa nüüd oma peast kunagi ära paari stseeni, mis lõppversiooni tegelikult ei jõudnud. sest nii kindel kinnitus, et E. Dodd oma lapsi ikkagi peksab, kui (vist kogu selle raamatusarja esimene ja ainus) suudlus... olid mu jaoks üsna ootuspärased.

[Margaret Conmey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not sure about reading this book after the disappointing Thuggery Affair and Ready Made Family but Antonia Forest is back on form
Disappointingly no Ginty in this book
I agree with those who feel the plot in improbable and I found the descriptions of the sea journeys too long and involved but overall Forest doing what she does best
I am also disappointed that she was unable to write more Marlow books
Due for a re - read of the series

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed the books I’ve read about this family. If I’ve got a quibble, I think more could’ve been made of the plot involving Edward Oeschli, supposedly the reason for this book. Very sadly this could be the last of these books I read - this is the last one readily available.

[Linda Hendry]

It was great to get hold of this book now that Girls Gone Buy have reprinted it. Thats my set complete and read.

[Libraryliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Marlows and had never read this one.