The innocent wayfaring

by Marchette Gaylord Chute

The Innocent Wayfaring. Marchette Chute, 1968 Hardcover. E.P Dutton & Co. Inc. New York.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Medieval, Childrens, Fiction, Historical

199 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1955

Reviews

[Kelly Sedinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother gave my daughter a copy of this some years ago. Apparently it was Mom's favorite book when she was a kid. It's been on my TBR for several years now, but sadly, I didn't get to it until after Mom died. I wish I'd been able to talk about this book with her. (The story is a delight: a young noble girl in Medieval times who wants more than to just get married off to a life of embroidering runs away, intending to go to London. Adventures ensue.) The style is a bit dated, but the book is full of gentle good humor and sly wit.

[Teresa Judd · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was serendipity when I was 12 years old and found The Innocent Wayfaring on the library shelf on June 23 way back when. The story takes place June 23--26 in 1370, and there's so many shades of A.A. Milne and Roald Dahl British sophistication working here. I fell in love with it then, and the story still continues to enchant. Anne Richmond, from a wealthy family, is schooled at an abbey run by her aunt, the prioress. But Anne knows she's only being groomed to be a housewife or a nun and would rather be neither. She runs away, taking the prioress' pet monkey with her, hoping to end up in London, where she might join a traveling circus. On the way, she meets Nick Ware, another runaway who has left his father's accounting practice (Nick thinks Arabic numbers are more efficient than Roman numerals). The two travel together, experiencing Medieval England and its various cultures (a fair, a village pub, a lord's castle). A very charming, sweet romance!

[Janna Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet, funny, delightful little book.

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustration by l-bunny-l
An out of print book they ought to bring back. This underappreciated gem was originally published in 1943. It is a lighthearted and refreshing medieval fantasy about a girl who runs away from a convent with a monkey and goes wayfaring throughout Chaucer's England. There's adventure and quick love. She travels for three days with a young poet, where they fall in love and return home to marry.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favorite books as a child.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the wonders of the modern world is being able to hunt on the internet for that book you love as an adolescent 45 years ago. I had to buy this copy to have on my shelves as a reminder to me of how wonderful life was when I first realized that books and reading could captivate me like nothing else in the world.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure delight! Two runaways find each other on the road, endure a few trials, and come home planning a wedding. Light, perceptive, a pleasure to read.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing in 1943, the author sets a romantic wayfaring withing the historical context of 13th century England. Along the way with Anne Richmond, Nicholas Ware and a pet monkey, the reader meets a host of characters true to the 13th century. Regardless of the 20th century context from which Ms Chute wrote, this is still a worthy tale for Young Adult readers to enjoy.

[Karla Huebner]

I first was given this book when I was eleven or twelve, and read it several times back then. Written by a Chaucer scholar, it takes the author's deep knowledge of Chaucer's time and from that creates a charming and humorous tale of a wealthy young girl who runs away from her aunt's convent and just misses what could be some real hazards out on the road. I enjoyed rereading it.

[Rebecca Radnor]

Not available on kindle

[Katarina D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a classic love story. i absolutely adored it. you've probably never heard of it before, but you should. it's SO fantabulous

[Elizabeth Lund · Rating 3 out of 5]

very entertaining light historical novel

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweetly old-fashioned (it was written in the 1940s), with a nice sense of humor.