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Tom Barber Trilogy #3
Young Tom
'One of the most original and most perfect works of imagination of our time' - Edwin Muir, The Listener
'A unique achievement in modern literature' - John Boyd
'It has a charm and freshness, it is beautifully written' - James Hanley, New English Weekly
Young Tom (1944) completes the trilogy of novels featuring Tom Barber, which began with Uncle Stephen (1931) and The Retreat (1936), and it is probably Forrest Reid's finest achievement. Acclaim from contemporary critics was unanimous, and the book won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize as the best novel of the year.
In many ways, ten-year-old Tom is like other his life centres on his parents, school, and his best friend Pascoe. But he also has another existence, equally real, in his dreams and imagination. In this novel, we follow him as he plays with his three canine companions, Barker, Pincher and Roger, befriends and communicates with a rat and a squirrel, and tries to find out what happened to Ralph Seaford, the dead boy whose ghost now haunts Tom's grandmother's attic. In exquisite prose, without sentimentality, exaggeration, or a single false note, Reid brings to life Tom, his greatest creation, and accomplishes the difficult feat of allowing readers to revisit and experience anew the wonders and mysteries of childhood. This edition features a new introduction by Andrew Doyle and a selection of never-before-published photographs.
'A unique achievement in modern literature' - John Boyd
'It has a charm and freshness, it is beautifully written' - James Hanley, New English Weekly
Young Tom (1944) completes the trilogy of novels featuring Tom Barber, which began with Uncle Stephen (1931) and The Retreat (1936), and it is probably Forrest Reid's finest achievement. Acclaim from contemporary critics was unanimous, and the book won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize as the best novel of the year.
In many ways, ten-year-old Tom is like other his life centres on his parents, school, and his best friend Pascoe. But he also has another existence, equally real, in his dreams and imagination. In this novel, we follow him as he plays with his three canine companions, Barker, Pincher and Roger, befriends and communicates with a rat and a squirrel, and tries to find out what happened to Ralph Seaford, the dead boy whose ghost now haunts Tom's grandmother's attic. In exquisite prose, without sentimentality, exaggeration, or a single false note, Reid brings to life Tom, his greatest creation, and accomplishes the difficult feat of allowing readers to revisit and experience anew the wonders and mysteries of childhood. This edition features a new introduction by Andrew Doyle and a selection of never-before-published photographs.
182 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1944
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About the author
Forrest Reid
59 books14 followersForrest Reid was an Irish novelist, literary critic and translator. He was, along with Hugh Walpole and J.M. Barrie, a leading pre-war British novelist of boyhood. He is still acclaimed as the greatest of Ulster novelists and was recognised with the award of the 1944 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel Young Tom.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 17, 2022
This is an, intermittently, beautiful and poignant book; at times transcendent(especially the last page).
Tom talks to the animals(they talk back too!) and has a crush on an older boy; and tries to negotiate friendships, but mainly isolation.
The style is spare and simple; emotionally, may be seen as twee nowadays. But, somehow, Reid, (just) carries it off: the book (and its two sequels) are plainly manifestations of the author's own nostalgia for lost youth ("Young Tom" was written in his last years, in the midst of the carnage of the Second World War).
As an older man, I got what Reid is (mainly successfully) trying to convey: the loss, and the need for attempts at regaining lost days.
What he achieves is an achingly dreamlike, misty world;which can equally appeal to children, young adults and all readers.
Much admired in his time, he has fallen into desuetude; sad.
If you can get hold of a copy (I found a GMP original in a bookshop in Cyffordd Landudno!!!!), read it:)
Tom talks to the animals(they talk back too!) and has a crush on an older boy; and tries to negotiate friendships, but mainly isolation.
The style is spare and simple; emotionally, may be seen as twee nowadays. But, somehow, Reid, (just) carries it off: the book (and its two sequels) are plainly manifestations of the author's own nostalgia for lost youth ("Young Tom" was written in his last years, in the midst of the carnage of the Second World War).
As an older man, I got what Reid is (mainly successfully) trying to convey: the loss, and the need for attempts at regaining lost days.
What he achieves is an achingly dreamlike, misty world;which can equally appeal to children, young adults and all readers.
Much admired in his time, he has fallen into desuetude; sad.
If you can get hold of a copy (I found a GMP original in a bookshop in Cyffordd Landudno!!!!), read it:)
September 20, 2020
This tale of an eleven-year-old boy growing up in an idyllic Irish setting in the mid 1930's appeals as much to adult readers as younger ones due to Reid's unusual ability to highlight just the right moments with just the right touch.
October 9, 2020
Totally captivating. “Young Tom” is best of an already wonderful trilogy. These are stories to savor and return to.
June 28, 2025
September 2023 (4 stars)
This is my second Forrest Reid book. My first was Private Road, an autobiographical volume largely consisting of a collection of reminiscences surrounding the publications of each of his works to date (1940). I liked his style and manner and was keen to try one of his novels. There was something about him that made me think he would perhaps be similar to Kenneth Grahame. And perhaps he is.
Anyhow, I looked for the cheapest hardback novel I could find online and Young Tom happened to be the book I obtained, satisfyingly turning out to be a first edition too. And once again I enjoyed Reid's manner and style. Apart from the names and some of the elements of the plot you wouldn't really know it was set in Ireland. It's all written in plain and simple English. For a while I was tempted to give it five stars. But though it was meant to work as a stand-alone novel, for me it just left me on a bit of a downer, and I didn't like that. Some of the other reviews I had read gave me the impression that I was to expect a nostalgic look back at an idyllic childhood. And I didn't find that at all. I thought it a fairly realistic expression of childhood, complete with all the pain and anxiety.
I think the big problem for me was that Max reminded me too much of my older brother and the kind of relationship we had. On the rare occasions when I would have the opportunity to invite a friend round to my house, my brother, just like Max, would entice him away from me, just for the malicious pleasure of hurting me. My friend would be invited into my brother's room, his domain from which I was banned, and I would be left to play all on my lonesome until my brother got bored and sent my friend back to me. My brother was the cool one who my friends idolised. I was the boring one who they would settle for in the absence of anything better. So reading about Max stirred up all those past feelings of hurt and bitterness, and I found the novel quite dark for that reason, not at all uplifting.
Thankfully my brother and I get on far better these days, but it has become an ingrained part of my character that I always see myself as a second-class human being who no one's really bothered about. I find it hard to believe anyone can find me interesting or love me, certainly not peers. Old people, yes, they like me, because they are short of friends and lonely and I have time for them and sit and listen. But people of my own age? No. I'm too boring for them and have nothing to offer. They are caught up with partners and children and work. I am way down the list of priorities, unmissed, easily forgotten. I think this means I come across as too intense or too demanding on the rare occasions when potential friendships do come my way. I see friendship as something precious to be treasured and nourished and requiring life-long commitment, and that is something most people don't want. They just want to enjoy a casual friendship for a season of fun and are then happy to move on with a new phase of life, leaving most of the old friendships and associations behind. I am usually on the list of those who can be left behind. Cheerful review, this, isn't it? Anyway, that's why it loses a star, because of the painful thoughts it stirs up. And I've been going through a tough time in my personal life lately too which hasn't helped. All in all, it's a book which is in danger of leaving the reader feeling suicidal. But as far as the writing goes I still appreciate Reid's style and would like to read more of him!
This is my second Forrest Reid book. My first was Private Road, an autobiographical volume largely consisting of a collection of reminiscences surrounding the publications of each of his works to date (1940). I liked his style and manner and was keen to try one of his novels. There was something about him that made me think he would perhaps be similar to Kenneth Grahame. And perhaps he is.
Anyhow, I looked for the cheapest hardback novel I could find online and Young Tom happened to be the book I obtained, satisfyingly turning out to be a first edition too. And once again I enjoyed Reid's manner and style. Apart from the names and some of the elements of the plot you wouldn't really know it was set in Ireland. It's all written in plain and simple English. For a while I was tempted to give it five stars. But though it was meant to work as a stand-alone novel, for me it just left me on a bit of a downer, and I didn't like that. Some of the other reviews I had read gave me the impression that I was to expect a nostalgic look back at an idyllic childhood. And I didn't find that at all. I thought it a fairly realistic expression of childhood, complete with all the pain and anxiety.
I think the big problem for me was that Max reminded me too much of my older brother and the kind of relationship we had. On the rare occasions when I would have the opportunity to invite a friend round to my house, my brother, just like Max, would entice him away from me, just for the malicious pleasure of hurting me. My friend would be invited into my brother's room, his domain from which I was banned, and I would be left to play all on my lonesome until my brother got bored and sent my friend back to me. My brother was the cool one who my friends idolised. I was the boring one who they would settle for in the absence of anything better. So reading about Max stirred up all those past feelings of hurt and bitterness, and I found the novel quite dark for that reason, not at all uplifting.
Thankfully my brother and I get on far better these days, but it has become an ingrained part of my character that I always see myself as a second-class human being who no one's really bothered about. I find it hard to believe anyone can find me interesting or love me, certainly not peers. Old people, yes, they like me, because they are short of friends and lonely and I have time for them and sit and listen. But people of my own age? No. I'm too boring for them and have nothing to offer. They are caught up with partners and children and work. I am way down the list of priorities, unmissed, easily forgotten. I think this means I come across as too intense or too demanding on the rare occasions when potential friendships do come my way. I see friendship as something precious to be treasured and nourished and requiring life-long commitment, and that is something most people don't want. They just want to enjoy a casual friendship for a season of fun and are then happy to move on with a new phase of life, leaving most of the old friendships and associations behind. I am usually on the list of those who can be left behind. Cheerful review, this, isn't it? Anyway, that's why it loses a star, because of the painful thoughts it stirs up. And I've been going through a tough time in my personal life lately too which hasn't helped. All in all, it's a book which is in danger of leaving the reader feeling suicidal. But as far as the writing goes I still appreciate Reid's style and would like to read more of him!
October 29, 2012
Interesting portrait of a fairly privileged young boy growing up in Northern Ireland. He prefers animals to humans. His character and values seem to be formed at a very young age and it will be interesting to see how Reid "develops" him further in Uncle Stephen etc. Tom seems to be both old and young for his years and clearly an only child. Quite delightful in its setting in a world which has almost vanished.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews