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The gift of a lamb: A sheperds' tale of the first Christmas told as a verse-play
Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso
47 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
About the author
Charles Causley
85 books12 followersCharles Stanley Causley was born in Launceston in Cornwall, and spent most of his life there. After serving in the navy in the second world war (an experience he wrote about in Hands to Dance and Skylark), he worked as a teacher in Launceston and began publishing verse in the 1950s. His poetry includes many references to Cornwall and its legends, and in his later years he published many books of verse for children, several of which have been illustrated by prominent artists.
In addition to his poetry, Causley wrote plays, short stories and opera librettos. He was also a prolific editor of collections of poetry. In 1958 Causley was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded a CBE in 1986. Other awards include the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1967. He was presented with the Heywood Hill Literary Prize in 2000. Between 1962 and 1966 he was a member of the Poetry Panel of the Arts Council of Great Britain.
Causley was very highly regarded by his fellow poets, and on his 70th birthday, many of them, including Ted Hughes, Elizabeth Jennings, Roger McGough and Seamus Heaney contributed to a collection of poetry and prose tributes published in his honour.
Charles Causley died in 2003.
In addition to his poetry, Causley wrote plays, short stories and opera librettos. He was also a prolific editor of collections of poetry. In 1958 Causley was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded a CBE in 1986. Other awards include the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1967. He was presented with the Heywood Hill Literary Prize in 2000. Between 1962 and 1966 he was a member of the Poetry Panel of the Arts Council of Great Britain.
Causley was very highly regarded by his fellow poets, and on his 70th birthday, many of them, including Ted Hughes, Elizabeth Jennings, Roger McGough and Seamus Heaney contributed to a collection of poetry and prose tributes published in his honour.
Charles Causley died in 2003.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 21, 2023
A very neat piece of accessible verse drama for younger performers. A pity I can't read music (printed at the end) well enough to follow the tunes for the songs, but there's a certain music in the rhymes and rhythms that hit the spot with me.
Straightforward story: three shepherds - grandfather, son, grandson - are tending their winter flock. It is the grandson's birthday: he will receive a crook, a smock and a lamb of his own choice to start his own flock. He singles out a 'parti-coloured' lamb as he feels sorry for its being different. Unfortunately, Thieving Jack - a comedic villain - is on the prowl, and he steals the very same lamb. Then the angels strut their stuff, and the sheperds go down to Bethlehem, encountering a bewildered and stunned Thieving Jack on the way: he has fallen over in shock at seeing the bright light and the angels. The shepherds look after him; he feels pangs of guilt at hearing that the young shepherd intends to give the baby in the manger the lamb he, Jack, has stolen; he repents, confesses and hands over the lamb and is forgiven and Mary and Joseph wecome them all to the manger.
A lovely morality tale. Causley on good form. And I liked especially the choice of lamb - the odd one out such as Christ would himself single out in his ministry - and the reference to the Good Samaritan in the shepherds giving aid to a strangerbyt the wayside - my favourite parable.
Straightforward story: three shepherds - grandfather, son, grandson - are tending their winter flock. It is the grandson's birthday: he will receive a crook, a smock and a lamb of his own choice to start his own flock. He singles out a 'parti-coloured' lamb as he feels sorry for its being different. Unfortunately, Thieving Jack - a comedic villain - is on the prowl, and he steals the very same lamb. Then the angels strut their stuff, and the sheperds go down to Bethlehem, encountering a bewildered and stunned Thieving Jack on the way: he has fallen over in shock at seeing the bright light and the angels. The shepherds look after him; he feels pangs of guilt at hearing that the young shepherd intends to give the baby in the manger the lamb he, Jack, has stolen; he repents, confesses and hands over the lamb and is forgiven and Mary and Joseph wecome them all to the manger.
A lovely morality tale. Causley on good form. And I liked especially the choice of lamb - the odd one out such as Christ would himself single out in his ministry - and the reference to the Good Samaritan in the shepherds giving aid to a strangerbyt the wayside - my favourite parable.
Displaying 1 of 1 review