Magic at Midnight

by Phyllis Arkle

Paperback. Remainder.

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This brief chapter-book fantasy, long out-of-print and largely unknown in the United States, concerns the adventures of the "Midnight Inn Sign Club," whose members include the creatures painted on various inn signs, brought magically to life at midnight, and able to escape their confinement, as well as the inhabitants of the local pond. Content to meet, swim and play music, the club members are roused into greater action when they discover a plot to steal a valuable painting from one of the innkeepers...

Magic at Midnight was my first foray into the work of English children's author Phyllis Arkle, who is apparently best known for her series of books about the adventures of the "Railway Cat," and I found it charming. I don't know that I would expend great effort in seeking out other titles by the author, but I am glad to have happened upon this one.

[Capn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wild Duck couldn't believe his ears!
After two hundred years stuck on the inn sign, he had just discovered that he could have flown off at the stroke of midnight every night to do whatever he wanted! With so many things to do what should he choose first?
STORY BOOK
A book for those who have developed reading stamina.
(Cover illustrations by Janina Ede)
A Young Puffin

//

Large print, an early reader (as it suggests above, on the back cover). Illustrated sporadically as well.

Yes, well - the concept (animals on pub signs coming to life at midnight) was original, but the story was rather thin (though it did make me somewhat nervous about falling into forgotten, disused wells inside of old pubs). Also - do pubs close well before midnight? I liked the assertion that adults seldom notice details and are generally unobservant (it's true), but I think you'd have to be blissfully ignorant of 'last call' and closing times to properly enjoy this.

There was some strange sexism in there as well, which I was prepared to shrug off but which recurred and, given the lack of other pithy substance, ended up being something I noticed rather more acutely than I might have:

But when Mermaid heard about Lion forgetting his fiddle, she laughed and laughed. 'I thought only women forgot things', she said. 'I haven't yet remembered to take off my hair ribbon. I enjoy wearing it so much, but I must remove it before dawn comes.'

and

When he came to The Mermaid inn, late as he was, he couldn't resist climbing up the post and feeling the soft satin ribbon. 'Just like a woman,' he said. 'You'll have to remember to untie your hair before you report for duty, my beauty.' And he went on his way.

It's not the biggest deal, but as I said - the premise good, the plot thin (we never do find out what Hare gets up to: 'As he passed The Hare and Hounds inn, he deliberately refrained from raising his eyes to the sign post. He'd always known better than to interfere with anything a hare might be doing.' - I don't get this reference, so sadly, if it was a joke, it was lost on this audience), and so this odd little bit of misogyny stood out.

It's FREE on OpenLibrary, and that's the right price. I should have read it there first before buying a hard copy.

[Bailey Winter]

This is a story about animals that come to life at midnight. One night the painted animals prevent a valuable painting from being stolen. There is only one person that knows what’s going on with these animals and that is the village, a simple boy. He notices that the animals don’t always get back to their right positions by dawn.

[JKR · Rating 3 out of 5]

A high three star book.

[Kharis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books I ever owned as a child. I loved this author. This book inspired me to try my hand at similar fiction at a very young age. Great fantasy fiction.