Bartlett and the City of Flames

Barlett #2

by Odo Hirsch

When Bartlett, Jacques le Grand and Gozo emerge from the Margoulis Caverns into daylight and the heat of the stonefields, little do they realise that they are about to embark on a wonderful adventure. An adventure that will take them from the City of Sun to the depths of the City of Flames.

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Odo Hirsch was born and grew up in Melbourne, where he trained to be a doctor. He now lives in London and writes excellent books that are published not only in Australia but also in the US, UK, Netherlands, Korea, Germany, and Italy.

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/odo-hirsch

Reviews

[Elsabet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It's short--just 200 pages--but it's absolutely adorable.

I first read this book about two years ago, and every time I read it again I realize anew how much I love it. Simple but beautiful.

The setting is probably one of the big reasons I love it so much. It reminds me a lot of A Horse and His Boy which is #5 on my "Favorite Books Ever List." (Yes, I am the weird girl who has lists of favorite things. I like lists.) I just really love desert settings. I don't think I would enjoy living in a desert, but then I've never had a chance...so who knows.

This books is a classic example of me picking the minor characters for favorites. Jacques les Grand is my favorite. I really really like him. I don't know why I became so attached to him so quickly, but I did. Bartlett was also interesting, but Jacques was absolutely and irrevocably my favorite.

The story, the setting and the characters were all lots of fun. 5/5. I recommend this book to everyone. It's a quick and quirky read.

[Infamous Sphere · Rating 5 out of 5]

intrepid explorers (and definite gay couple) Bartlett and Jacques Le Grand continue their adventures, this time with a plucky sidekick in tow (who ends up having to sit out the whole adventure.) This was the first Bartlett book I ever read, and it's definitely stronger than the first instalment, which is basically just a fetch quest for a spoiled queen.

I'm always surprised that Odo Hirsch isn't more widely known, because he's one of the best children's authors out there. His description is fantastic, and he constantly proves himself fantastic at world building and characterisation, whether the book is set in a modern city, or in a vaguely 19th century age of exploration past, all while keeping everything relatably non-specific. Bartlett and Jacques could be English. They could be French. They could be from some other country that doesn't exist. We don't know.
Everything in this book comes across vividly and beautifully, from the descriptions of the barren, baking stone fields, to the gleaming, wondrous chasms below, and the contrast between the simple-living fish, vegetable and goats people of the underground to the proud, gossipy splendid people in the city of the sun. The book ends with a lovely vision of tolerance, diplomacy and good relations. The subject of explorers can be inherently colonialist (there's even a part of the story where Bartlett is deeply disappointed to learn that he, Jacques and Gozo were not, in fact, the first people to travel through an underground network of caves), but unlike in the first book, little is made of royal patronage or trade or politics. Bartlett and Jacques explore things because they are there.

The only potential criticism I could say of the Bartlett series is that it's extremely male-dominated, much like older tales of derring-do (although Bartlett and Jacques are considerably less violent and swaggering than the Alan Quartermains, more just extremely persistent.) I'm not super bothered in this case because in my mind Bartlett and Jacques are definitely a couple. Hirsch also wrote the slice-of-life series Hazel Green, which has an excellent female protagonist - so that's something. (Although in the words of Hazel, "everything's something. In fact, Hazel couldn't think of a single thing that wasn't.")

Anyway - if you haven't read Odo Hirsch, read him cause he's fucking fantastic.

[Fay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great children's book by the wonderful Odo Hirsch. It follows on from Bartlett and the Ice Voyage but is quite capable of standing on its own.
It's funny though ... I used to enjoy reading children's books more when my own children were reading them and recommending them ... 'you've got to read this one Mum!' .... than picking them up as an adult and empty nester ... there was a certain predictability.

[Giang · Rating 2 out of 5]

quite boring. If you like classics and fairytales then I recommend this book. it's also in series for those who think it's too short.

[Natalie Champion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and fun, maybe a little too predictable at times. Good for children.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of Odo Hirsch's books especially when I was younger, and I remember Bartlett being one of my favourite characters (I think for me he was a bit like Tintin)! Hirsch's stories are so inventive, they're a lot of fun to read. Absolutely marvelous.

[Xaris · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mansi · Rating 3 out of 5]

entertaining

[Shani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't really remember it, although it's a book I remember reading so I must have liked it a fair bit. It was adventurous, I think that's why I liked it alot.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bartlett is awesome. The problem solving skills he models are so iventive, and presented with such gentle humour. I love it.

[Isa (Bookishlifetime) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing