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Punch Bowl Farm #5
The Wanderer
With her new story, Monica Edwards returns to Punchbowl Farm and the Thornton Family. As in her previous "Punchbowl" books, Mrs. Edwards writes of the normal, everyday things that happen on a farm, but her skill in describing places and her sympathetic understanding of the problems as well as the excitements that face people who are growing up to-day, set her books in a class by themselves. The chief problem facing Dion, Lindsey and the rest of the Thornton family, is what to do about Chalice, the colt, who is continually breaking out, leading the heifers after him. Then there is Peter's rabbit which also persists in escaping, and many ingenious methods are thought up to trap him. There is also the wounded fox which Dion brings home, the hen who suffers from shock and refuses to lay, and Vashti, the Siamese cat who is suddenly found to possess all the qualities of a gun dog. For Lindsey there is also the excitement of organ lessons and of composing a piece of music. Monica Edwards is deservedly acknowledged to be among the very best of modern writers for girls and boys.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1953
About the author
Monica Edwards
77 books23 followersMonica Edwards (November 8, 1912 - January 18, 1998) was a British children's and young adult writer.
Monica spent spent much of her childhood at Rye Harbour in East Sussex, encountering the fishermen and rural characters that later appear in her "Romney Marsh" series of books. In 1933 she married Bill Edwards and began publishing articles and verses in a variety of publications. She spent eight years as editor of a Correspondence magazine for parents before the publication of her first book Wish for a Pony in 1947.
In 1947 the Edwards family moved to Punch Bowl Farm in Thursley, South West Surrey, which became the setting for her other main series of books (as Punchbowl Farm).
Monica differed from many of her contemporaries - notably Enid Blyton - in that her characters grew older with the books until they reached the edge of adulthood, and the atmosphere of the books changed with the times.
In 1968, Monica's husband, working Punch Bowl Farm, was seriously disabled in a tractor accident. Monica stopped writing fiction. By the end of 1970, the Edwards had left Punch Bowl Farm.
Series:
* Romney Marsh
* Punch Bowl Farm
Monica spent spent much of her childhood at Rye Harbour in East Sussex, encountering the fishermen and rural characters that later appear in her "Romney Marsh" series of books. In 1933 she married Bill Edwards and began publishing articles and verses in a variety of publications. She spent eight years as editor of a Correspondence magazine for parents before the publication of her first book Wish for a Pony in 1947.
In 1947 the Edwards family moved to Punch Bowl Farm in Thursley, South West Surrey, which became the setting for her other main series of books (as Punchbowl Farm).
Monica differed from many of her contemporaries - notably Enid Blyton - in that her characters grew older with the books until they reached the edge of adulthood, and the atmosphere of the books changed with the times.
In 1968, Monica's husband, working Punch Bowl Farm, was seriously disabled in a tractor accident. Monica stopped writing fiction. By the end of 1970, the Edwards had left Punch Bowl Farm.
Series:
* Romney Marsh
* Punch Bowl Farm
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 16, 2016
They just can't seem to catch a break at Punchbowl farm. So much bad luck!!!
March 26, 2026
An enjoyable revisit and foray back into a misty past..
This series fits the tradition, in children's literature, of likeable, able children rolling up their sleeves, getting outdoors and getting on with whatever needs getting on with.
This story, published in 1953, and the fifth in the series, rests with a familiar background of perfectly pleasant, loosely supportive and amenable parents who are just a little distrait: a father busy with his own projects, a mother who is well-meaning and industrious, but both of them a little semi-detached from the farm which is essentially being developed and run by the children.
The natural landscape features in the cast list of this book and is both vividly and lovingly drawn. Music also features, but the orchestra for this book is the outdoorsy lifestyle and the inclusive menagerie of animals embraced in the children's daily routine and adventures.
The warmth of the family home, and collective, positive, problem-solving responses to somewhat jolly and character-building impecunity show the children leading the way towards collective triumph over repeated adversity.
Worth noting, too, that, although not universal, there is an admirable and enjoyable lack of gendered expectations roles and attributions for the children.
This series fits the tradition, in children's literature, of likeable, able children rolling up their sleeves, getting outdoors and getting on with whatever needs getting on with.
This story, published in 1953, and the fifth in the series, rests with a familiar background of perfectly pleasant, loosely supportive and amenable parents who are just a little distrait: a father busy with his own projects, a mother who is well-meaning and industrious, but both of them a little semi-detached from the farm which is essentially being developed and run by the children.
The natural landscape features in the cast list of this book and is both vividly and lovingly drawn. Music also features, but the orchestra for this book is the outdoorsy lifestyle and the inclusive menagerie of animals embraced in the children's daily routine and adventures.
The warmth of the family home, and collective, positive, problem-solving responses to somewhat jolly and character-building impecunity show the children leading the way towards collective triumph over repeated adversity.
Worth noting, too, that, although not universal, there is an admirable and enjoyable lack of gendered expectations roles and attributions for the children.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews