The Broken Bell

by Alan Kennedy

The Broken Bell, the second book in Alan Kennedy’s Boat in the Bay trilogy. When he arranges a surprise holiday for the children Uncle Albert imagines he can look after them well enough. But before this story ends he is the one who needs looking after. Set on a remote island off the coast of southern France, an idyllic holiday gradually becomes a terrifying race against time, building to a dramatic climax. The Broken Bell also gives us the first glimpse of Poppy the painter, hardly aware of her own incredible talent, torn between the magic world of art and artists and her life with the others. But the hero of this book is the youngest of all. Ian never completely understands what is going on, but he is the one who finally discovers the secret of the broken bell. For readers of any age. “The writing is assured … the implied reminders of the Swallows and Amazons series again add another dimension and are a delight” – Julian Lovelock, The Journal of the Arthur Ransome Society.

250 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2011

About the author

Alan Kennedy lives near Marciac in the South West of France, home to a huge annual jazz festival. His first three novels appeal to readers from the age of seven to seventy. They examine the lives of a group of children "trapped in amber" over a period of a few golden months. His novel "Lucy" is a love story set in World War II France. The sequel, "A Time to Tell Lies", also set during World War II, is a fictional treatment charting the human cost of two of the most significant WW2 disinformation projects.

Alan Kennedy has also written the biography of the psychologist Oscar Oeser, entitled "Oscar & Lucy." Oeser worked in Germany with Hilter's favourite psychologist, studied at Cambridge alongside some notorious spies, headed Hut 6 at Bletchley Park, and organised a raid on Hiltler's Berghof. Apart from that, his life was tranquil.

Further information about Alan Kennedy's books is available on the Lasserrade Press website: www.lasserradepress.com

Reviews

[Linda Hendry]

This is the 2nd of three books about the same 5 young people. Now in France its a lot warmer than it was by the Lake in the previous book. Still too much angst tho.

[Jeremy Kriewaldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setting a story of English children in the South of France in the late 1920's might seem implausible, but Kennedy pulls off the feat to create a realistic children's adventure in the Ransome style. At a time when Britain seems to be going through a fit of little Englishness, a dose of Kennedy's gentle internationalism might have a curative effect.
The book picks up where the first in the series ended and immediately turns the entire situation on its head. This story, unlike the first, is more one of character development than of daring exploits and is the better for that reason.
Well worth reading.