An Old Magic

by Ruth M. Arthur, Margery Gill (Illustrator)

Through the magic of gypsies who periodically camp on her sheep farm in Wales, Hannah experiences excitement, fear, change, and finally peace.

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction

175 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Working name of UK writer Ruth Mabel Arthur Huggins, long active as a children's author, her career beginning with Friendly Stories (collection, 1932). Most of her early work, like the Brownie sequence -- The Crooked Brownie (1936), The Crooked Brownie in Town (1942) and The Crooked Brownie at the Seaside (1942) -- is for younger children, but with Dragon Summer (1962) and A Candle in her Room (1966) she began to write the haunting fantasy-tinged adolescent novels for which she became best known. Often featuring first-person narratives spanning multiple generations filled with echoes of centuries past.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Hannah Lakin's father dies in 1894, she leaves her emotionally distant mother and twin sister Emily behind in New Hampshire, and journeys to Wales, where she becomes the governess to the Bryant family. It is here, while walking in the hills around Rockport, that Hanni (as she is now known) meets and falls in love with Welsh sheep-farmer David Morgan. After marrying, Hanni goes to live at Morgan's Ground, a farm lying just beneath Carn Gwelli, in "the shadow of the mountain." It is the mountain and its eerie magic, as well as the periodic visits of the Locks - a family of Romanies (gypsies) that come to define the three main periods of Hanni's life...

The Romany feature frequently in children's literature - everything from Lloyd Alexander's Gypsy Rizka , Rumer Godden's The Diddakoi , to Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. I am not well enough informed about Romany culture to determine what is and is not an accurate portrayal - but their treatment in An Old Magic felt respectful to me (a real relief - I was not looking forward to having to pan a Ruth Arthur novel). First, they are referred to as "Romany," not gypsies. Second, although Hanni is distrustful at first, her mother-in-law assures her that the Locks are honorable, hard-working people, whatever cultural differences might exist. It is to Arthur's credit that she does not try to gloss over those differences - nor does the narrative always invite you to sympathize with the Locks. Third, Arthur never states or implies that the Romany would be better off if they would only "settle down" somewhere. I mention all of this because of the many portrayals of the Romany in literature as thieving and child-kidnapping villains on the one hand, or overly romantic bohemian wanderers on the other.

In conclusion: well worth reading, especially for Ruth M. Arthur fans. Hanni's story was engaging, and the brooding/looming mountain was reminiscent of the Brenin Llwyd in Susan Cooper's The Grey King . My only quibble was with the inclusion of Northern Irish terrorism in the Dulcie Harris storyline at the end - I felt that this should have either been fleshed out more, or left out altogether.

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

What was Hannah to do? It is 1894, and her father has dead. Their New England sheep farm had to be sold. And she could not bear the thought of going with her mother and sister to the inn in town, where her mother would become the wife of the innkeeper, Mr. Spaulding. The answer did not come at once, and when it did, it was surprising. Through a friend, Hannah got a position as a governess to a family of children in Wales. This story describes her life once she makes this bold move. (from the book jacket)

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many aspects of this I enjoyed lots, especially the picture of life on a Welsh sheep farm in the early 20th century. But as with any book in which there are "gypsies," parts were less appealing.

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just discovered this book by a favorite author, Ruth M. Arthur. It covers several generations of the family of a young woman who leaves her twin sister to emigrate from New England to rural Wales and is more at home there than in America. I can identify with that! Unlike some of Arthur's books, there's no real mystery in this story, but some mysterious gypsy's and the haunting power of the mountain that overshadows the farm add a little zip to the plot. The real center of the book is Hanni (Hannah), who marries into a Welsh farm family and is the strong loving center around which the family revolves.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/2011 Re-read. I have loved this book forever, it seems, with its haunting Romany violin that I can almost hear as I read. Hanni's story weaves around and through the Romany people who come and go on her adopted farm, Morgan's Ground. Arthur's so good at communicating emotion and magic in a few evocative words. A wonderful story, masterfully told.


4/2008 Re-read, of course. I adore stories that touch on the Romany way of life, and this one is no exception. It also has some of the spooky bits that Arthur is renowned for. It's multi-generational and most wonderful. This is one of my favorites of all of Arthur's works- it embraces the numinous and the mundane with equal fervor.

[Jossalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this author. discovered her when I had the ambition to read all the titles in the children's section of the library and started at A. love the Margery Gill illustrations about as much as the books.

[Cheryl]

I think my childhood library had several books by either or both of these creators. I'll read them on openlibrary until sated.

[Linda Hanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm slowly reading or rereading a number of books by Ruth M Arthur, who I loved as a junior high reader. This book spans multiple generations of almost 100 years. I'm both impressed and dismayed by its breadth. I wish Ms. Arthur and expanded the book to give us a more complete picture. Unfortunately, really big events are explained in a short paragraph. So I was left disappointed in this story.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend recommended this children's author to me. It's a lovely book, unusual in its quiet voice and leisurely pace.