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Whistle Down the Wind
Originally described as a "modern fable," and made into a 1961 film and a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, this novel follows the story of a group of English farm children who believe that Jesus has come to live in one of their barns.
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 1959
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205 people want to read
About the author
Mary Hayley Bell
14 books5 followersMary Hayley Bell was born in Shanghai, China where her father served in the Chinese Maritime Customs Service. The family later moved to Tientsin, China (now Tianjin). Mary Hayley Bell appeared on the Broadway stage in Volpone in April, 1928 and in The Shrike in 1958. She also appeared in the films Vintage Wine (1938) and The Shrike (1955). She married actor John Mills in London on January 16, 1941. That marriage lasted 64 years until his death on April 23, 2005. They had three children together: Juliet Mills (b. 1941), Hayley Mills (b. 1946) and Jonathan Mills (b. 1949).
Mary Hayley Bell wrote four plays: Men in Shadow (1942), Angel (1947), Duet for Two Hands (1945) and The Uninvited Guest (1953). She wrote the novel Whistle Down the Wind (1961), co-wrote the screenplay and story of Sky West and Crooked (1966) (released as Gypsy Girl in the United States) and wrote additional dialogue for Scott of the Antarctic (1948). Whistle Down the Wind was made into a film in 1961 (starring daughter Hayley Mills) and an Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical in which Bell's original story and characters are considerably altered. Mary Hayley Bell was featured in her son's video documentary of her husband's Moving Memories (2000).
Mary Hayley Bell wrote four plays: Men in Shadow (1942), Angel (1947), Duet for Two Hands (1945) and The Uninvited Guest (1953). She wrote the novel Whistle Down the Wind (1961), co-wrote the screenplay and story of Sky West and Crooked (1966) (released as Gypsy Girl in the United States) and wrote additional dialogue for Scott of the Antarctic (1948). Whistle Down the Wind was made into a film in 1961 (starring daughter Hayley Mills) and an Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical in which Bell's original story and characters are considerably altered. Mary Hayley Bell was featured in her son's video documentary of her husband's Moving Memories (2000).
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 27, 2022
This is very good, but the 1961 film is excellent.
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September 26, 2021“My life ain’t no holiday
I’ve been through the point of no return,
I’ve seen what a man can do,
I’ve seen all the hate of the woman too.”
- Vanishing Point (New Order…) =
“And they gave him away
like in *Whistle Down the Wind*
by the look on his face
he never gave in.”
- (ibid)
https://youtu.be/kHrAjj4s0CU
This book, like the song, reminds me of a kind of sadness and hope, an imagination, a “children’s view” fading (…all the main characters are only children in it…).
In the backdrop of the narrative: tall, grey figured adults are rushing around trying to find their antagonist (or protagonist?) stuck in a belial, lamp-like world, while the kids “with him they are seeking,” all along, are in their own underneath.
In this respect it’s much like another book I’ve always meant to mention too, The Silver Chair:
“Puddlegum: Suppose... suppose we have only dreamed and made up these things like sun, sky, stars, and moon, and Aslan himself [as you say]. In that case, it seems to me that the made-up things are a good deal better than the real ones.
And if this black pits of a kingdom is the best you can make, then it's a poor world. And we four can make a dream world to lick your real one hollow.
GL: How dare you threaten me!
P: As for me, I shall live like a Narnian even if there isn't any Narnia. So thank you very much for supper. We're going to leave your court at once and make our way across your great darkness to search for our land above!”
There are so many other important books to read but this one, like Lord of the Flies or the Silver Chair, has a sweetness unfeigned that belongs to more eternal days of high imagination when you are feeling somber, some “off” (sic) day of yours.
It feels to be about children growing up in an adults world, such a sadness and hope for awhile in youth that is both, doubly - more real than theirs.
It doesn’t seem to be one for adults, they growing up in name only (usually wrongly - sometimes, in spirit, rightly) to be “add-alt’s” or… “the additionally altered...”
So…Whistle Down the Wind…
it’s a lovely book.
I’ve been through the point of no return,
I’ve seen what a man can do,
I’ve seen all the hate of the woman too.”
- Vanishing Point (New Order…) =
“And they gave him away
like in *Whistle Down the Wind*
by the look on his face
he never gave in.”
- (ibid)
https://youtu.be/kHrAjj4s0CU
This book, like the song, reminds me of a kind of sadness and hope, an imagination, a “children’s view” fading (…all the main characters are only children in it…).
In the backdrop of the narrative: tall, grey figured adults are rushing around trying to find their antagonist (or protagonist?) stuck in a belial, lamp-like world, while the kids “with him they are seeking,” all along, are in their own underneath.
In this respect it’s much like another book I’ve always meant to mention too, The Silver Chair:
“Puddlegum: Suppose... suppose we have only dreamed and made up these things like sun, sky, stars, and moon, and Aslan himself [as you say]. In that case, it seems to me that the made-up things are a good deal better than the real ones.
And if this black pits of a kingdom is the best you can make, then it's a poor world. And we four can make a dream world to lick your real one hollow.
GL: How dare you threaten me!
P: As for me, I shall live like a Narnian even if there isn't any Narnia. So thank you very much for supper. We're going to leave your court at once and make our way across your great darkness to search for our land above!”
There are so many other important books to read but this one, like Lord of the Flies or the Silver Chair, has a sweetness unfeigned that belongs to more eternal days of high imagination when you are feeling somber, some “off” (sic) day of yours.
It feels to be about children growing up in an adults world, such a sadness and hope for awhile in youth that is both, doubly - more real than theirs.
It doesn’t seem to be one for adults, they growing up in name only (usually wrongly - sometimes, in spirit, rightly) to be “add-alt’s” or… “the additionally altered...”
So…Whistle Down the Wind…
it’s a lovely book.
April 8, 2013
Delightful gentle book about children living on a farm who think they have found Jesus living in one of their barns. Beautiful.
January 21, 2015
I am a huge fan of the film, so was a little disappointed by how different this book is in mood to the movie. Still, the characters are great and it's an enjoyable read.
December 11, 2024
I've read and enjoyed this book before so this is a re-read which is something I don't do often. Ienjoyed the film too - in fact there was one thing in the film I liked better than in the book. They used ordinary names for the children so when the character played by Hayley Mills says "Come on our Charles" in a yorkshire accent it sounds right. "Come on our Merlin" just wouldn't cut it.
January 29, 2022
This was as a child, and still remains one of my absolute favorite books. So uplifting, the endless optimism, acceptance of children is so hopeful, yet the tone is so down to earth.
I thought re-reading as an adult would ruin how I felt about it, but it’s just added more layers.. do I believe now any differently than I did as a child?
I thought re-reading as an adult would ruin how I felt about it, but it’s just added more layers.. do I believe now any differently than I did as a child?
October 21, 2013
It made me very melancholy ... I think, in recent times, the innocence of children like Sparrow, Brat and Little Baby has been lost - I wonder how many children these days would automatically assume Jesus had turned up unannounced on such an unremarkable farm. It is a wistful tale, at times funny, at times it could make you weep - a great all-round read
February 28, 2019
A nice little book that takes you back in time to hurricane lamps and blissful naivety. I picked this up from a hotel book exchange library in Vietnam and I read it in one day. Light, airy and comical book with a backbone of chilly realism to keep you engaged to find out the ending.
November 29, 2008
Young farm children find a man that they believe is Jesus.
October 29, 2014
Whistle Down the Wind had the intrigue of Harper Lee’s Boo Radley, in the form of Blake and with its theme of lost innocence in children, it sometimes reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird.
July 13, 2021
I think this would have been a better film than book.
December 5, 2018
A charming book written from the perspective of a young girl, who “sort of” believes they have found Jesus in their barn! A charming story of childhood innocence.
November 20, 2025
Whistle Down the Wind by Mary Hayley Bell is a unique tale holding the simple perspective and faith of childhood in contrast to the seeming sensibilities of adulthood.
I saw the movie before reading the book. It retains the basics of the story, but you can tell adults made the changes for the cinematic audiences. Even though I enjoyed the movie, the book is better. Their choice to change the character names for the movie bothered me. I like the names Sparrow, Brat, and Poor Boy better. They speak to how the adult world sees them, but not at all as the Man and reader come to know them. The more common names in the movie didn’t evoke anything more than nice names.
Also, the movie presented the story from the oldest sibling’s perspective/POV instead of from Brat’s—the middle child—and the movie ending decreased the beauty of the book ending. Although I have heard some of the beautiful songs from the stage musical based on the book, I haven’t seen it and can’t speak to the choices made for that version.
In the book, the middle child’s POV draws the reader into the perfect middle spot of childhood. Her thoughts are direct, laced with the wisdom and pure faith of a child. The only off-putting thing is her penchant for colorful language with a peppering of profanity inserted matter-of-factly along the way. Even though the reader connects on some level with each of the siblings, Brat guides the reader throughout the story.
The premise of the book is: a group of children find Jesus in a barn. No one, not even the Man can deter their belief. The adults are looking for a runaway convict. The conflict: Is He or isn’t he?
Reading it as an adult, I readily accepted him as the latter, but . . . is he completely? The children’s belief changes him (more clearly discerned in the book), sparks hope and love within the children, and even gives the adults pause—especially their father. Aren’t we supposed to treat others like Jesus (Like the Bible says,“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”)?
The book ending lets the reader decide the identity and fate of the Man in the barn. The movie decides for you. The three siblings, as well as the other children who are drawn to the Man in the barn aren’t concerned either way—they see Him as Jesus regardless. They’ve helped take care of Jesus. In the end, shouldn’t we do the same? I believe Brat would say, “I like Him, I really do.” I agree.
I saw the movie before reading the book. It retains the basics of the story, but you can tell adults made the changes for the cinematic audiences. Even though I enjoyed the movie, the book is better. Their choice to change the character names for the movie bothered me. I like the names Sparrow, Brat, and Poor Boy better. They speak to how the adult world sees them, but not at all as the Man and reader come to know them. The more common names in the movie didn’t evoke anything more than nice names.
Also, the movie presented the story from the oldest sibling’s perspective/POV instead of from Brat’s—the middle child—and the movie ending decreased the beauty of the book ending. Although I have heard some of the beautiful songs from the stage musical based on the book, I haven’t seen it and can’t speak to the choices made for that version.
In the book, the middle child’s POV draws the reader into the perfect middle spot of childhood. Her thoughts are direct, laced with the wisdom and pure faith of a child. The only off-putting thing is her penchant for colorful language with a peppering of profanity inserted matter-of-factly along the way. Even though the reader connects on some level with each of the siblings, Brat guides the reader throughout the story.
The premise of the book is: a group of children find Jesus in a barn. No one, not even the Man can deter their belief. The adults are looking for a runaway convict. The conflict: Is He or isn’t he?
Reading it as an adult, I readily accepted him as the latter, but . . . is he completely? The children’s belief changes him (more clearly discerned in the book), sparks hope and love within the children, and even gives the adults pause—especially their father. Aren’t we supposed to treat others like Jesus (Like the Bible says,“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”)?
The book ending lets the reader decide the identity and fate of the Man in the barn. The movie decides for you. The three siblings, as well as the other children who are drawn to the Man in the barn aren’t concerned either way—they see Him as Jesus regardless. They’ve helped take care of Jesus. In the end, shouldn’t we do the same? I believe Brat would say, “I like Him, I really do.” I agree.
October 8, 2024
I first read this story as a young teenager, when I found it amid the myriad bookshelves at the centuries-old vacation home my family rented one summer in Maine. When we returned the following couple of summers, I searched it out each time and reread it, captivated and entertained by this story of British children coming across a man in their barn that they believed to be Jesus.
The title finally returned to me last month, thanks to a little googling, and I promptly placed it on interlibrary loan at my library. I was absolutely delighted to receive a hardback copy with the same cover I remembered from nearly 50 years ago!
And yes, time has not changed the impact of this whimsical, sharp, touching and laugh-out-loud story. It’s both reverent and irreverent, due to the unforgettable trio of siblings at the center of the story: the narrator, Brat, who has a mouth like a trucker but a heart that wants to believe; her older sister Swallow; and their baby brother Poor Baby, who rolls his own cigarettes and can keep a secret if it means protecting someone vulnerable.
I highly recommend this story, with its perfect voice and entertaining characters that move the reader to consider what it takes to believe and to welcome others into that belief. So delighted to learn that yes, this story stands the test of time.
The title finally returned to me last month, thanks to a little googling, and I promptly placed it on interlibrary loan at my library. I was absolutely delighted to receive a hardback copy with the same cover I remembered from nearly 50 years ago!
And yes, time has not changed the impact of this whimsical, sharp, touching and laugh-out-loud story. It’s both reverent and irreverent, due to the unforgettable trio of siblings at the center of the story: the narrator, Brat, who has a mouth like a trucker but a heart that wants to believe; her older sister Swallow; and their baby brother Poor Baby, who rolls his own cigarettes and can keep a secret if it means protecting someone vulnerable.
I highly recommend this story, with its perfect voice and entertaining characters that move the reader to consider what it takes to believe and to welcome others into that belief. So delighted to learn that yes, this story stands the test of time.
February 11, 2022
I love the film of "Whistle Down the Wind" and I've just finished reading Hayley Mills' autobiography, "Forever Young", so I thought it was a good opportunity to read the novel on which the film is based. To be honest, I was a little disappointed, and can say that I enjoyed the film more. The novel seemed to have been written in a rush, while the film was better structured and the characters more believable.
The novel is told in the first person by the middle child, nicknamed "Brat". I discovered from the autobiography that the Mills family liked to have slightly odd family nicknames for their children. She is supposed to be ten years old, and based on Hayley, but I felt that her language and demeanour suggested an older child. The grown-up members of the family were more sympathetic in the novel than in the film and we are not directly introduced to the vicar and the school teacher, although they are mentioned.
The "Jesus" figure is left much more ambiguous than in the film, and the end of the novel is left open to personal interpretation, whereas in the film, his true identity is made very clear.
The novel is told in the first person by the middle child, nicknamed "Brat". I discovered from the autobiography that the Mills family liked to have slightly odd family nicknames for their children. She is supposed to be ten years old, and based on Hayley, but I felt that her language and demeanour suggested an older child. The grown-up members of the family were more sympathetic in the novel than in the film and we are not directly introduced to the vicar and the school teacher, although they are mentioned.
The "Jesus" figure is left much more ambiguous than in the film, and the end of the novel is left open to personal interpretation, whereas in the film, his true identity is made very clear.
July 29, 2022
The basic story is well known both from the musical, and the older film starring Alan Bates and Hayley Mills (whose mother wrote it) ; the book is a bit different. The children are from the South of England, not Lancashire, and their names are a bit more whimsical. The kids' innocence and readiness to believe contrasts with the grownups' suspicious world weary outlook, yet even the children are not quite sure, though they remain loyal to the man in the barn. Nothing is overstated, all is implied. The children's late Fifties slang gives it period charm, as do the scratchy illustrations of kids in ponytails and turned-up jeans. I felt as if I was living it as Brat experienced it, and as she tells it in the first person.
A wonderful story with a unique atmosphere, no matter what...
A wonderful story with a unique atmosphere, no matter what...
May 14, 2022
I suppose ypiu would say this book is charming. It is heavily of its time and I could not disagree with anyone who said it was a bit condescending. It felt rather like the sort of book I would have got for attendamce at Sunday school. I saw echoes of Peter Pan (Clap if you believe in fairies) in the story and of Just William in the narration style. Interestingly I don't see too much typecasting and the girls have agency within their family. Although it tugged at the heart strings I didn't feel too manipulated
In the end isn't it lovely to have something to believe in
In the end isn't it lovely to have something to believe in
August 3, 2024
An easy short little read but one of those rare occassions where the film in so much better than the book. That said it is a sweet story about the innocense of children and how adults can learn allot from minors. The Mills family are a talented bunch, I did realise this was written by the mother of Hayley Mills who gave such an outstanding performance in the 1961 film.
January 1, 2020
Saw the musical in London. Wore out my CD set, had to buy another. While I knew the story of the musical was somewhat different from the original book, I loved the book as well. Very sweet and innocent tale.
June 16, 2019
A sweet book about the innocence of children but to be honest I’m not entirely sure what all the fuss is about...
June 30, 2024
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow. that's why I love reading. this novella is touching, heartwarming, hilarious, encouraging and positive and a little bit of a mystery never expected to enjoy and love this
Wow. that's why I love reading. this novella is touching, heartwarming, hilarious, encouraging and positive and a little bit of a mystery never expected to enjoy and love this
September 22, 2025
The innocence of it all!!!! Delightful
November 10, 2025
This book has moved house with me at least four times and has survived numerous book culls over the years. And in all that time I still had not read it and kept putting it off despite the film with Hayley Mills being one of my all-time favourites.
So was it worth the wait? A 100% yes. It starts off strangely but it soon weaves its own spell and proves to be quite different to the film. That is no bad thing…. This source material is strong and the very different ending is right for the novel, in the same way the imagery of the film is right for that medium.
I love Slim, the father, protecting his children’s innocence and belief in Jesus. It’s my view that he goes inside the burnt building/oast house at the end and adds the crucifix to the wall, “I thought you’d like to see that,” said Father, “then you can tell the others if you want to.” He gives her the way out and doesn’t deny her experience or that of the children, in thinking they’ve been with Jesus. Some readers think it’s about the loss of innocence, but I think it’s smarter than that. It feels like it’s the preservation of it and giving children control of the narrative. The realisation that Brat and the others come to is that the world is complex, but thankfully there are people to look after them and protect them, “Darkness…all around us…But we weren’t alone. That’s all…”
Despite some dated language, the book stands up really well. Very glad I came to it. It definitely called out to me…..and I do believe books do that!!!
PS - Poor Baby is 7!!!!! He smokes and rolls his own cigarettes and everyone thinks this is ok. Times really have changed since 1958, when the book was written. This is my favourite fact!!!! 🚬🚬🚬
So was it worth the wait? A 100% yes. It starts off strangely but it soon weaves its own spell and proves to be quite different to the film. That is no bad thing…. This source material is strong and the very different ending is right for the novel, in the same way the imagery of the film is right for that medium.
I love Slim, the father, protecting his children’s innocence and belief in Jesus. It’s my view that he goes inside the burnt building/oast house at the end and adds the crucifix to the wall, “I thought you’d like to see that,” said Father, “then you can tell the others if you want to.” He gives her the way out and doesn’t deny her experience or that of the children, in thinking they’ve been with Jesus. Some readers think it’s about the loss of innocence, but I think it’s smarter than that. It feels like it’s the preservation of it and giving children control of the narrative. The realisation that Brat and the others come to is that the world is complex, but thankfully there are people to look after them and protect them, “Darkness…all around us…But we weren’t alone. That’s all…”
Despite some dated language, the book stands up really well. Very glad I came to it. It definitely called out to me…..and I do believe books do that!!!
PS - Poor Baby is 7!!!!! He smokes and rolls his own cigarettes and everyone thinks this is ok. Times really have changed since 1958, when the book was written. This is my favourite fact!!!! 🚬🚬🚬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2020
Perfectly captures the voice of a 10 year old without being patronising. Wonderful message to adults about how much insight we lose when we grow up.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews