Hell's Edge

by John Rowe Townsend

When her father's new job necessitates moving to a small northern town, a fifteen-year-old English girl is unhappy until she becomes interested in the town's past and a mysterious deed of land that could affect its future.

Genres: Childrens

223 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

John Rowe Townsend (born 1922) is a British children's author and academic. His best-known children's novel is The Intruder, which won a 1971 Edgar Award, and his best-known academic work is Written for Children: An Outline of English Language Children's Literature (1965), the definitive work of its time on the subject.

He was born in Leeds, and studied at Leeds Grammar School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Among his popular works are Gumble's Yard (his debut novel, published in 1961), Widdershins Crescent (1965), and The Intruder (1969), which won a 1971 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile Mystery. In Britain, The Intruder was made into a children's TV series starring Milton Johns as the stranger. Noah's Castle was filmed by Southern television and transmitted in seven 25-minute episodes in 1980.

Reviews

[Luan On · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly engaging, excellent characterisation of warm likeable characters. Ril (Amaryllis) moves to the titular Yorkshire Hallersedge with her Dad and adjusts to the small town ways, gradually succumbing to its charms. There's a bit of Secret Seven intrigue with a missing will, burgeoning romance and funny dialogue. I've always found the English quirk of using "our" before a son's daughter's name charming and funny. "Our Norman" "Our Sylvie"

[Capn]

Back cover:

The music started. Roy and Sylvia rose to dance.
The burliest of the boys from the next table came across to Ril, raised his eyebrows, and jerked a thumb towards the dance-floor.
Ril ignored the invitation. Norman half rose from his seat.
'Well, what about a dance?' the lad demanded.
Ril didn't like refusing to dance, but this time she had no doubt.
'No thank you,' she said. 'I'm not dancing just now.'
'Come on!' the boy said. It sounded more like a command.
'You 'eard!' said Norman, 'She's not dancin' wi' you.'

Queued - review to follow.