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The Adventures of Toby Wey
An extraordinary tale of pre-Victorian England, telling the story of the determined young farm boy from Kent who saved Charles Dickens from becoming a factory worker, operated the notorious chess-playing mechanical Turk, took on the London underworld, played a crucial role in the invention of the steam engine and organized one of the most successful rebellions in British history. A roller-coaster ride through the beginnings of the modern era.
420 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2009
5 people want to read
About the author
Gavin Scott
13 books24 followersGavin Scott is a novelist, broadcaster and writer of the Emmy-winning mini-series “Mists of Avalon”, Dreamworks’ “Small Soldiers”, Working Title’s “The Borrowers” and Sci Fi’s “Legends of Earthsea” He created more than two hundred documentaries and short films for BBC and the commercial TV in the UK before moving to the United States, where his first assignment was with George Lucas, developing and scripting “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”.
“Absolutely Anything”, the script he wrote with Terry Jones will be released this year starring Simon Pegg and Kate Beckinsale, with Eddie Izzard, Rob Riggle and Joanna Lumley and the voices of Robin Williams and the Monty Python team.
Aristos Films are producing his screenplay “The Last Summer”, a thriller about how World War One began, to be directed by Downton Abbey director Philip John.
Archetype Productions and Lucas Foster (“Mr and Mrs Smith”) are set to produce Gavin’s World War Two supernatural adventure “Lost Squad”, a combination of “The Matrix” and “Where Eagles Dare”, inspired by the graphic novels of Chris Kirby.
For Germany’s Gruppe 5 productions he is writing a ten part series about Dona Gracia Nasi, a 16th century female Schindler who negotiated with Popes, Sultans and Emperors, set up a continent-wide escape route, set up a colony on the coast of what had been ancient Israel and saved thousands of Jews from the Inquisition.
Gavin’s 8 hour adaptation of “War and Peace” for Lux Vida SPA, starred Malcolm McDowell and Clement Poesy and was directed by Robert Dornhelm (“Into the West”, “The Ten Commandments”).
He created and executive produced “The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne” a 22 part sci-fi adventure series set in the nineteenth century about, which was broadcast around the world.
“Absolutely Anything”, the script he wrote with Terry Jones will be released this year starring Simon Pegg and Kate Beckinsale, with Eddie Izzard, Rob Riggle and Joanna Lumley and the voices of Robin Williams and the Monty Python team.
Aristos Films are producing his screenplay “The Last Summer”, a thriller about how World War One began, to be directed by Downton Abbey director Philip John.
Archetype Productions and Lucas Foster (“Mr and Mrs Smith”) are set to produce Gavin’s World War Two supernatural adventure “Lost Squad”, a combination of “The Matrix” and “Where Eagles Dare”, inspired by the graphic novels of Chris Kirby.
For Germany’s Gruppe 5 productions he is writing a ten part series about Dona Gracia Nasi, a 16th century female Schindler who negotiated with Popes, Sultans and Emperors, set up a continent-wide escape route, set up a colony on the coast of what had been ancient Israel and saved thousands of Jews from the Inquisition.
Gavin’s 8 hour adaptation of “War and Peace” for Lux Vida SPA, starred Malcolm McDowell and Clement Poesy and was directed by Robert Dornhelm (“Into the West”, “The Ten Commandments”).
He created and executive produced “The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne” a 22 part sci-fi adventure series set in the nineteenth century about, which was broadcast around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 5, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Havelock Press
Pub Date: Revised Edition, July 2022
Set in early 19th century England, "The Adventures of Toby Wey" is a historical adventure novel written with a strong dose of good cheer. The narrative swings back and forth between the thrilling and the poignant. Toby’s story, though distinctly English, often evokes that of Huckleberry Finn or Indiana Jones. As he comes of age, he is entangled in real historical events. The book could have been labeled as YA, but everyone should read it. This senior citizen reviewer found the novel to be an exciting page-turner. Only after I finished and reflected on it did I realize how much history I’d absorbed while immersed in the adventure. Considering the breadth of Gavin Scott’s novels and screenwriting credits, it should have come as no surprise.
Overcoming abject poverty and unfair discrimination by the ruling class is the focus of the book. When "Napoleon was at the height of his power, Beethoven was going deaf, and James Madison was annexing Florida for the United States" Toby is born into a poor farm life. As a boy, Toby could be found looking after his younger siblings while his parents work in the fields. This is right around when Mary Shelly introduces the world to her monster. Here, the author hammers in the egotistical nature of leaders. Toby's father, facing the inability to feed his family, asks the local squire if his cows can use common land for grazing. If a lord hadn't been present to watch the interaction, he probably would have agreed. Alas, the squire wants a shot at parliament, and so exercises severe austerity to impress the lord. Toby's father goes on to be imprisoned, where he dies of disease. Toby loses his mother soon after and is separated from his siblings.
In the first of many moves, Toby is taken in by two elderly sisters who hire him as their servant. Despite his sorrow, Toby exhibits a thirst for knowledge and the aptitude for changing something bad into something wonderful, a theme that becomes prevalent throughout the book. On his time off, he is tutored in history at no cost by a bored professor who is thrilled to encounter such a bright mind. On campus, a new world opens up to Toby. He makes a friend and protects him from bullies. To ensure that you fall in love with his protagonist (if you haven’t already), the author makes it abundantly evident that Toby is as kind as he is gifted. In the interim, the sisters and Toby read the bible. When a bishop comes to visit the sisters, they invite him to hear Toby interpret the bible. Scott weaves comedy tightly into the angst of such confrontations. The bishop is not impressed. He roars, "Young Master Wey is not being taught to regard the scriptures as the Holy Word of God…He is being taught to see them as so much history…What is he being educated for?.. he is a viper…he is intelligent…and he is dangerous.” I laughed aloud as Toby becomes homeless again.
At fourteen, Toby joins a carnival and learns a different sort of education. It is here where he gets his first kiss from a carnie girl while accidentally getting involved with "the most notorious British criminal at the time, the hideously maimed, psychotically violent Dog-Face Jack Shepherd." Before jumping into his next life, he also outwits the "Notorious Chess-Playing Mechanical Turk." There is no shortage of entertaining vignettes to choose from. None of them bored me. Our hero participates in the construction of Stockton and Darlington’s first public railway to use steam locomotives. The reader cannot help but be impressed by the details included in the story explaining the steam engine’s construction. In Toby’s last escapade, I was at the edge of my seat to learn if he succeeds in rescuing his unfairly imprisoned brother. Scott even laces his Dickens-like tale with Charles Dickens himself. The entire time you're reading this adventure novel, which is actually a literary novel in disguise, you'll be laughing, musing, and wanting another Toby adventure—almost four hundred pages were not enough.
“The Adventures of Toby Wey” by Gavin Scott: https://amzn.to/3bygm1x
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.amazon.com/
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr...
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord
Publisher: Havelock Press
Pub Date: Revised Edition, July 2022
Set in early 19th century England, "The Adventures of Toby Wey" is a historical adventure novel written with a strong dose of good cheer. The narrative swings back and forth between the thrilling and the poignant. Toby’s story, though distinctly English, often evokes that of Huckleberry Finn or Indiana Jones. As he comes of age, he is entangled in real historical events. The book could have been labeled as YA, but everyone should read it. This senior citizen reviewer found the novel to be an exciting page-turner. Only after I finished and reflected on it did I realize how much history I’d absorbed while immersed in the adventure. Considering the breadth of Gavin Scott’s novels and screenwriting credits, it should have come as no surprise.
Overcoming abject poverty and unfair discrimination by the ruling class is the focus of the book. When "Napoleon was at the height of his power, Beethoven was going deaf, and James Madison was annexing Florida for the United States" Toby is born into a poor farm life. As a boy, Toby could be found looking after his younger siblings while his parents work in the fields. This is right around when Mary Shelly introduces the world to her monster. Here, the author hammers in the egotistical nature of leaders. Toby's father, facing the inability to feed his family, asks the local squire if his cows can use common land for grazing. If a lord hadn't been present to watch the interaction, he probably would have agreed. Alas, the squire wants a shot at parliament, and so exercises severe austerity to impress the lord. Toby's father goes on to be imprisoned, where he dies of disease. Toby loses his mother soon after and is separated from his siblings.
In the first of many moves, Toby is taken in by two elderly sisters who hire him as their servant. Despite his sorrow, Toby exhibits a thirst for knowledge and the aptitude for changing something bad into something wonderful, a theme that becomes prevalent throughout the book. On his time off, he is tutored in history at no cost by a bored professor who is thrilled to encounter such a bright mind. On campus, a new world opens up to Toby. He makes a friend and protects him from bullies. To ensure that you fall in love with his protagonist (if you haven’t already), the author makes it abundantly evident that Toby is as kind as he is gifted. In the interim, the sisters and Toby read the bible. When a bishop comes to visit the sisters, they invite him to hear Toby interpret the bible. Scott weaves comedy tightly into the angst of such confrontations. The bishop is not impressed. He roars, "Young Master Wey is not being taught to regard the scriptures as the Holy Word of God…He is being taught to see them as so much history…What is he being educated for?.. he is a viper…he is intelligent…and he is dangerous.” I laughed aloud as Toby becomes homeless again.
At fourteen, Toby joins a carnival and learns a different sort of education. It is here where he gets his first kiss from a carnie girl while accidentally getting involved with "the most notorious British criminal at the time, the hideously maimed, psychotically violent Dog-Face Jack Shepherd." Before jumping into his next life, he also outwits the "Notorious Chess-Playing Mechanical Turk." There is no shortage of entertaining vignettes to choose from. None of them bored me. Our hero participates in the construction of Stockton and Darlington’s first public railway to use steam locomotives. The reader cannot help but be impressed by the details included in the story explaining the steam engine’s construction. In Toby’s last escapade, I was at the edge of my seat to learn if he succeeds in rescuing his unfairly imprisoned brother. Scott even laces his Dickens-like tale with Charles Dickens himself. The entire time you're reading this adventure novel, which is actually a literary novel in disguise, you'll be laughing, musing, and wanting another Toby adventure—almost four hundred pages were not enough.
“The Adventures of Toby Wey” by Gavin Scott: https://amzn.to/3bygm1x
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.amazon.com/
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr...
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord
July 15, 2022
This is just the sort of story that I would want my boys to read: a tale about a boy, Toby Wey, who through no fault of his own, finds himself on hard times and alone, fighting to survive in a world where the wealthy prosper at the expense of others who they can exploit; but managing, despite the odds to do something productive and successful with the life he has been given.
However, it was a book that I, as an older reader, also enjoyed reading. Very much. Gavin Scott's novel has great pace, moving from Toby's simple country life through his encounters with various characters along the way, some who become his friends and some who would harm him if given the chance. But beyond the story is a learnedness about the period in which the book is set that makes it interesting historically speaking: I liked the asides that Scott throws in about what else is happening in the world at the time so that we are made aware of contemporaries; like, who was President in America, for instance.
The book is set in a dynamic period of history and one full of tensions, political and social, and having Toby chart his way through different scenarios which show this means that it is always entertaining and full of adventure. It is also chockablock with illustrations - I think from various sources - which augment the narrative and are reminiscent of Dickens' editions I have come across, which is apt considering young Charles Dickens features throughout the story. This is also something that I liked - it could have felt contrived and a little clumsy, but such is Scott's writing that this was never the case. The famous writer's appearance felt natural to the narrative.
The book is split into two parts: the first is told in the third person and our all-seeing narrator tells us of Toby's early days; the second part is Toby's own papers, discovered serendipitously and so, we learn first hand about his more successful years, still fraught but with a more determined and assured outlook, the confidence of life experience serving him well. The switch is made obvious and the book does not suffer for this.
As a coming-of-age novel, it has all the hallmarks of a good one -a highly enjoyable and easy read for readers of all ages.
This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC. It is an unbiased representation of my opinion of the book.
However, it was a book that I, as an older reader, also enjoyed reading. Very much. Gavin Scott's novel has great pace, moving from Toby's simple country life through his encounters with various characters along the way, some who become his friends and some who would harm him if given the chance. But beyond the story is a learnedness about the period in which the book is set that makes it interesting historically speaking: I liked the asides that Scott throws in about what else is happening in the world at the time so that we are made aware of contemporaries; like, who was President in America, for instance.
The book is set in a dynamic period of history and one full of tensions, political and social, and having Toby chart his way through different scenarios which show this means that it is always entertaining and full of adventure. It is also chockablock with illustrations - I think from various sources - which augment the narrative and are reminiscent of Dickens' editions I have come across, which is apt considering young Charles Dickens features throughout the story. This is also something that I liked - it could have felt contrived and a little clumsy, but such is Scott's writing that this was never the case. The famous writer's appearance felt natural to the narrative.
The book is split into two parts: the first is told in the third person and our all-seeing narrator tells us of Toby's early days; the second part is Toby's own papers, discovered serendipitously and so, we learn first hand about his more successful years, still fraught but with a more determined and assured outlook, the confidence of life experience serving him well. The switch is made obvious and the book does not suffer for this.
As a coming-of-age novel, it has all the hallmarks of a good one -a highly enjoyable and easy read for readers of all ages.
This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC. It is an unbiased representation of my opinion of the book.
July 18, 2022
The Adventures of Toby Wey by Gavin Scott is a coming-of-age tale of a young boy who struggles to find his place in the world. Reminiscent of Huck Finn, young Toby embarks on his way to make his own life after the dissolution of his family. Toby meets an eclectic group of friends and rivals while on the road. From Alistair, Dr. Sage, and Charles Dickens to George and Robert Stephenson. The story is divided into two parts; one is the history that historians put together based on documents found in a chest in an old attic. The second piece is about what is located in the chest’s false lid: Toby Wey’s diary.
My perspective of the book was that Toby’s greatest desire, above all else, is for knowledge. During his earlier years, he spent time with a friend named Jonathon. Jonathon and Toby become extremely close and spend most of their time in the library reading and sharing their interpretations of the stories. Later, he used his study of the Bible to work with Dr. Sage to learn about history. When he was around George and Robert Stephenson, Toby became interested in engineering and the construction of machines. He was always in pursuit of gaining more and more knowledge, and I loved that about Toby’s character.
The additional character’s flitted in and out of Toby’s life, but I still found all of them very well developed and engaging. I also really enjoyed that the author would preface most chapters with world events to keep the reader aware of the timeline. The Adventures of Toby Wey is an exceptional read. I think the dual perspective worked well in this case because it gave the reader a well-rounded view of Toby’s life. This book was overall a great read. It is a story about family, friends, love, adventure, and most of all, learning. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Toby’s life and look forward to reading more from Gavin Scott.
My perspective of the book was that Toby’s greatest desire, above all else, is for knowledge. During his earlier years, he spent time with a friend named Jonathon. Jonathon and Toby become extremely close and spend most of their time in the library reading and sharing their interpretations of the stories. Later, he used his study of the Bible to work with Dr. Sage to learn about history. When he was around George and Robert Stephenson, Toby became interested in engineering and the construction of machines. He was always in pursuit of gaining more and more knowledge, and I loved that about Toby’s character.
The additional character’s flitted in and out of Toby’s life, but I still found all of them very well developed and engaging. I also really enjoyed that the author would preface most chapters with world events to keep the reader aware of the timeline. The Adventures of Toby Wey is an exceptional read. I think the dual perspective worked well in this case because it gave the reader a well-rounded view of Toby’s life. This book was overall a great read. It is a story about family, friends, love, adventure, and most of all, learning. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Toby’s life and look forward to reading more from Gavin Scott.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews