James without Thomas

Mr Copplestone & The Smiths #3

by Gillian Avery

Joshua and James Smith spend Christmas in the country and James tries to get an old railway reopened, creating trouble as usual.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Gillian Elise Avery was a British children's novelist, and a historian of childhood education and children's literature. She won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 1972 for A Likely Lad. It was adapted for television in 1990.

Reviews

[Louise Culmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Smith is ill with scarlet fever, so Joshua and James are sent to stay with their aunt and uncle Plover in the country for Christmas. Together with their cousin Luke, and the Squerry girls (from Trespassers at Charlcote) they become interested in Lord Banbury, their eccentric neighbour, and his disused railway, which James is determined to see reopened. Unfortunately Lord Banbury hates railways. There are lots of interesting characters in this amusing story, particularly Lord Banbury, and the Squerry’s cousin Charlotte who is, if anything, even more strong minded than Cordelia Squerry. And then there’s the Plovesr’ terrifying cook, Sarah. this is a very entertaining tale, with James as determined as ever to get his way, and as always proving an embarrassment to the sensitive Joshua. And of course without Thomas, James is irrepressible.

[Janet Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just my cup of tea this book, even now!