7 Books in 1: The Railway Children, Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet, The Story of the Amulet, The Story of the Treasure-Seekers, The Would-Be-Goods, and The Enchanted Castle

by E. Nesbit

J K Rowling, Edinburgh International Book Festival, August 15, 2004: "I love E Nesbit - I think she is great and I identify with the way that she writes." Classic stories by much-loved children's author E. Nesbit. This book contains seven full-length novels. Set in an England of steam-trains and magic, generations of children have thrilled to these exciting adventures. When the children in these stories aren't preventing a train crash, you'll find them flying on a magic carpet, travelling through time with an enchanted Egyptian amulet, hatching the egg of the mythical phoenix, or using their magical ring to explore an enchanted castle This '7 books in 1' edition is an ideal gift for any child who loves reading, or any adult who wants to bring some magic into their life! The Railway Children 'The train wouldn't care. It would go rushing by them and tear round the corner and go crashing into that awful mound. And everyone would be killed. Her hands grew very cold and trembled so that she could hardly hold the flag. And then came the distant rumble and hum of the metals, and a puff of white steam showed far away along the stretch of line.' Five Children and It The Psammead is a small, furry animal from thousands of years ago that has eyes on long horns like a snail's eves, ears like a bat's ears, and a tubby body shaped like a spider's and covered with thick soft fur; its arms and legs are furry too, and it has hands and feet like a monkey's. But the best thing about the Psammead is that it can grant wishes. The Phoenix and The Carpet (also known as 'The Phoenix and The Wishing Carpet') When the children from "Five Children and It" accidentally hatch the egg of the mythical Phoenix, it shows them how to use their magic carpet to travel anywhere they want... and a whole new round of adventures begins! The Story of The Amulet The children's mother is very ill, and their father has been sent abroad on business. With both their parents away, they discover their old friend the Psammead - captured and put up for sale! If only they could get wishes from the Psammead, they could wish their mother well again, and wish their father home. But the Psammead can't give them any more wishes. Luckily it knows where they can find an ancient Egyptian amulet that could give them their 'heart's desire' - if only it was in one piece! The Story of the Treasure Seekers "'I'll tell you what, we must go and seek for treasure: it is always what you do to restore the fallen fortunes of your House.'" When the Bastable family runs short of money, the children decide it's up to them to find a way to restore their family fortunes. Will they succeed in rescuing their father from the visits of policeman and debt collectors? The Would-Be-Goods The Bastable children behave so badly that their father sends them away to live in the countryside. Determined to be good in the future, they form a society, the 'Wouldbegoods', for being good in. But things don't go exactly as they plan... The Enchanted Castle Sent to live in the countryside for the summer, Jerry, Jimmy and Cathleen discover a secret castle containing a sleeping princess - and (although he's worried that she might slap him for it) one of the boys kisses her, and she wakes up. But shouldn't a real princess be taller? Is the castle really enchanted - or was the 'princess' just pretending?

Genres: Fantasy

584 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2004

About the author

Edith Nesbit (married name Edith Bland; 15 August 1858 – 4 May 1924) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit.
She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later connected to the Labour Party.

Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington, Surrey, the daughter of agricultural chemist and schoolmaster John Collis Nesbit. The death of her father when she was four and the continuing ill health of her sister meant that Nesbit had a transitory childhood, her family moving across Europe in search of healthy climates only to return to England for financial reasons. Nesbit therefore spent her childhood attaining an education from whatever sources were available—local grammars, the occasional boarding school but mainly through reading.

At 17 her family finally settled in London and aged 19, Nesbit met Hubert Bland, a political activist and writer. They became lovers and when Nesbit found she was pregnant they became engaged, marrying in April 1880. After this scandalous (for Victorian society) beginning, the marriage would be an unconventional one. Initially, the couple lived separately—Nesbit with her family and Bland with his mother and her live-in companion Maggie Doran.

Initially, Edith Nesbit books were novels meant for adults, including The Prophet's Mantle (1885) and The Marden Mystery (1896) about the early days of the socialist movement. Written under the pen name of her third child 'Fabian Bland', these books were not successful. Nesbit generated an income for the family by lecturing around the country on socialism and through her journalism (she was editor of the Fabian Society's journal, Today).

In 1899 she had published The Adventures of the Treasure Seekers to great acclaim.

Reviews

[Kanami Iinuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penguin Active reading, level2
Time:10/16=30minuits 10/17=1hour
7words- family-sisters - police -spy - railway- friends- happy
Discussion question
1. This story is about family,and they like their father. Do you like father?
Yes, but sometimes i don't like because he is strict.
2. This character like train, when you were children, do you like train?
No, I wasn't interested in, but my younger brother liked very much.

This book was interesting for me, main character have brave children, so there are many happening in this story.
But all happning end successfully, and they are very kind children, so I like this book's children and this story.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just-reread this for what has felt like the millionth time. This was one of my favorite compilations of stories growing up - though the Five Children and It remains the first among equals. If any of you haven't read this and are looking for quality British fiction pre-Harry Potter, look no further. The chapter about wishing to be as "beautiful as the day" was a personal favorite.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this series as a kid. A surprisingly good re-read.

[Jeandana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of my favorite books! i should reread them...

[Sandra Lederman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful. From 1906