The Chocolate Boy

by Geoffrey Trease, David Walker

An illustrated children's story set in the mid-eighteenth century. Sarah is staying at her fashionable aunt's grand house in Nottingham and is forced into the company of George, the spoilt and cruel son of her aunt's best friend. She would rather make friends with Sam, a West Indian pageboy who serves her aunt's chocolate. Sam longs to spend his time drumming, but as a slave he has no way to leave the household. The town's famous Goose Fair becomes the scene of some fateful encounters.

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Robert Geoffrey Trease (1909-1998) was a prolific writer, publishing 113 books between 1934 (Bows Against the Barons) and 1997 (Cloak for a Spy). His work has been translated into 20 languages. His grandfather was a historian, and was one of the main influences towards Trease's work.

He is best known for writing children's historical novels, whose content reflects his insistence on historically correct backgrounds, which he meticulously researched. However, with his ground-breaking study Tales Out of School (1949), he was also a pioneer of the idea that children's literature should be a serious subject for study and debate. When he began his career, his radical viewpoint was a change from the conventional and often jingoistic tone of most children's literature of the time, and he was one of the first authors who deliberately set out to appeal to both boys and girls and to feature strong leading characters of both sexes.

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet simple book, giving nice historical context for kids